Deciding on the area to be served
The main criterion should be what constitutes a homogeneous ‘news area’. The area your own local newspaper covers without running into local editions will be some guide. In some cases it may be appropriate for the Talking Newspaper itself to produce local variants, though this will obviously be a more complex operation.
Ascertaining demand
A letter should be sent to all registered blind and partially sighted people in your area, explaining your project and enquiring whether they would like to receive the service and whether they already own an appropriate cassette player (see below). The register is held by the local Social Services Department (and in some cases by the local Society for the Blind) and, as it is confidential, they will prefer to send out the letter for you.
Raising funds
This usually proves to be rather easier than one might at first imagine, especially once the demand is definitely known, as the idea seems to have strong popular appeal. As well as other methods, appeal letters should be sent to local groups such as Lions, Rotary, churches, schools, businesses as well as to individuals and councils. Grants can be obtained from local Councils, or funding sources.
Deciding on type of equipment
Most newly-formed groups choose to use standard compact cassette equipment. Some blind people already have their own cassette tape recorders, or are willing to buy them; others are supplied to them on free loan by the local Talking Newspaper. Whichever type of equipment you choose, the appropriate high-speed copiers must be bought, as well as a better quality tape recorder on which to make the master tape.
Premises
While the ideal is a recording studio with separate control room, such as may be found in a local college or radio station, it should be stressed that this is far from essential, and several Talking Newspapers have started in people’s living rooms and continue to do so.
Deciding on frequency, length and content of tape
A typical Talking Newspaper might be produced weekly, play for 90 minutes, and contain a mixture of ‘hard news’, read straight from the papers; features, possibly condensed from the papers; and home-grown features, such as interviews, on-the-spot reports, and correspondence. But there are many variations: tapes may be shorter or longer, fortnightly or monthly, and may have a smaller or higher proportion of ‘magazine’ content as opposed to hard news. It’s up to you and your listeners.
If you would like to know more………
Contact the Development Officer on:-
Telephone Number: 0871 226 5506
e-mail: www.enquiries@tnf.org.uk
or write to----
TNF
Manor House
Lime Kiln
Wootton Bassett
Wiltshire
SN4 7AF
Then
Fix a starting date at least six months ahead – and get busy!
« back to ways to help home page
|
