Radio That's Right Up Your Street
I read this morning that another fifteen groups acrosss have applied for community radio . I see that as good news for listeners. Imagine have an ultra-local radio station that is run for by the people in a particular town or village. Apart from anything else it's a great opportunity to develop local talent and give people the skills that might set them on course for a full-time career in broadcasting.
Not everyone agrees with that point of view. Some "industry professionals" can be a bit sniffy about this kind of broadcasting. Others see it as a threat to their own audiences and profits.
I take the view that community radio is something that should be nurtured and encouraged. For the past few years ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Scotland has been involved with communty radio in a number of ways. Mostly we've offered support, advice and training. Some of our programme-makers have gone on attachment to certain stations. Some community stations ask us for technical advice.
Last Friday I managed to skip out between movng house to attend the annual conference of the . The federaton delegates had gathered in Highland Council's H.Q. in Inverness and the conference was taking place the actual council chamber.
Also in attendace was my ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Scotland colleague Tony Currie who was talking about his own digital radio station, .
Radio people - no matter where they come from or which kind of station they work for -tend to share the same concerns and enthusiasms. Sometimes it's useful to get together to compare notes and tell war stories about various technical calamities or great ideas that bt the dust.
After all, radio is one of the few industries where it's legitimate to like the sound of your own voice.
