Brainstorming gets the best from
a group's creative juices.
Conditions needed for a good brainstorming session
1. A relaxed atmosphere
2. The problem posed has a single focal point that is understood
3. Everyone knows the results are not important in themselves so no one really bothers to evaluate the individual ideas that are presented.
4. Since no one evaluates the ideas as to their soundness, none of the participants feel restricted, except in purpose.
5. During each subject, don't take longer than 12 minutes. If first run doesn't produce any ideas, discuss the next one and come back to the first later.
6. During group sessions, have no more than six participants.
7. Individuals, rather than groups, need to brainstorm. Each person does his/her own brainstorming.
8. Wait until you have a list of ideas before evaluating the individual ideas.
9. Don't cast out the "ridiculous." by twisting it around, you may have a great idea.
10. Get a secretary to record ideas.
Then base final choices on the following: - Complexities involved
- Does it fit the market you have targeted
- Supporting knowledge and expertise involved Brainstorming "tools"
New ways to look at things -- this is "creativity."
- Adapt -- look to ways of improving things that have been done before
- Modify -- a new twist
- Magnify -- what could be added?
- Minimize -- what could be subtracted?
- Substitute -- instead?
- Rearrange -- interchange components
A concentrated study of what has been done in the past is a good beginning.
Also, what has been done by others to target similar audiences? Make sure to seriously consider the information retrieved in your market analysis. Everyone in the group must feel comfortable expressing their ideas.
Back to Mass Media Stuff -- stuff I have collected over 28 1/2 years of teaching a beginning mass media course in journalism-photography at San Antonio College