Insight into opposing opinions

Insight
Tuesday 8.30pm, SBS
INSIGHT is an eye-opening and insightful program which has been tackling the hard topics for more than a decade.
With a panel of ‘experts’ and the ‘audience’ a mixture of experts and people who have or are experiencing the topic at hand, it provides a very well rounded debate on almost any subject.
The panel and audience are encouraged to share their stories, opinions, expertise and respond to others.
With such a cross-section of the topic in one place, all wanting to voice their opinion, award winning journalist Jenny Brockie seamlessly steers the debate to ensure all sides have an opportunity to share and respond.
Incredibly, Jenny is also neutral during each discussion, without letting her personal opinions shine through and keeps a straight face – frankly, with some of the topics on the table it must be hard to do.
Controversial, timely and taboo topics are Insight’s bread and butter with recent weeks including marrying your cousin, self-harm, sperm donation and paternal rights, and whether you would want to be given a time frame with a terminal diagnosis.
The show can easily change opinions, and has done so with me – you can start watching an episode thinking one way and after hearing all sides of the debate it is sometimes hard to stick to your guns.
If you are social media savvy, Insight also has a booming twitter discussion during each show – sometimes it is easy to get side-tracked with what is happening online rather than the TV.
But with many panellists and guests tweeting during the show, it gives viewers great access to participate in the discussion and often panellists, guests and even Jenny Brockie retweet or respond directly to comments or questions.
Although the show has finished for 2013, past episodes are available on the SBS website and it will be back with a vengeance next year – I can’t wait to see what comes next.
– Nicole Williams