Its been a supercrazy 5 months in ole Totnes, but here I am again- bracing myself for a new radio and writing project :-)
Using the box of delights I bought from the Bare Foot Bee Keeper (Cheers Phil!), I'm preparing to launch a new show. From 16th September, twice a week from 5-6pm, I'll be producing a local magazine style programme -'Live In Totnes' which will indeed be, er, live in Totnes.
Soundart Radio is supporting through streaming services so, from my box of mics and mini mixer, via my laptop to the Dartington studio on the hill, onto the Internet proper and then the FM bandwidth, I'm hoping to open up a platform for sharing news and ideas - a drop in radio hour for all the good and news worthy wonders of the local area. If i wasn't making it, i hope it will be the kind of radio I'd be listening to myself whist making the dinner or driving home from work : a mix of local music, debate, chat, events, reviews, oddities, more local music and news....
I've been turning the idea of a Totnes Media Co-op over and over in my mind for a few years. There have been a few good attempts to get a indie paper going here, but unfortunately none have made it beyond first issues. I think all have agreed that media are a essential aspect of social infrastructure which belong better in the realm of the public, rather than as the domain of the private sector.
Grassroots media and community journalism seem to be becoming more and more popular and relevant, as large mass media is revealed to have self serving allegiances tied to political and corporate dealings. Hand made productions and community run projects don't mean a lack of authenticity - I think its rather the opposite. Mass media and highly produced productions can of course be wondrous, informative, entertaining and have a important role in the mediascape- but there are qualities in small scale endeavours serving localities which regional and national platforms cannot reproduce (here, for example, is my current favorite highly reputed citizen journalist Scriptonite -eloquent, well researched, enlightening). Just because a media product is 'popular', or the word 'community' is part of it's TM title doesn't make it accessible truthful or democratic. There's a whole load of paradoxes here really worth pondering, such as the ideas of 'objective' media, and the worth of 'mainstream values'.
I hope 'Live In Totnes' can be part of opening up our community radio further into our community. I am taking inspiration from Free Radio pioneer Tetsuo Kogawa, who kick started miniFM in Japan in the 1980's, His work showed that broadcasting meetings around tables, from accessible rooms with a open doors, could break down walls and open new ways of viewing how media can be enjoyed and harnessed to empower the wider community.
Here and now, its a experiment : and hopefully, it will be a whole lot of fun too....
News on a local event? Bring it!
Thoughts on a public issue? Yes please!
Something happening, happened, or should happen? Wing it down to 'Live in Totnes' and share them thoughts....
This show has potential for a lot of contribution - from phone in interviews and comments online, to folks making their own reports and contributing one-off or regular segments, to 'the open door' really being embraced and listeners coming up to the cafe or public room we're using that evening and joining in the conversation live on the show. Maybe the angle is more a collaborative one then - by making the show super flexible and regular, I reckon there will be a 'in' for all kinds of voices- a right proper mix, reflecting the diversity and passions of our area.
I'm casting about for venues and co-hosts currently, and looking forwards to it immensely-
and reminded of a post I made here 2 years ago for a set of shows - Town Crier is done, but 'Live in Totnes' plans to revisit some of the same territory :
:-)
'Citing!!!
Using the box of delights I bought from the Bare Foot Bee Keeper (Cheers Phil!), I'm preparing to launch a new show. From 16th September, twice a week from 5-6pm, I'll be producing a local magazine style programme -'Live In Totnes' which will indeed be, er, live in Totnes.
Soundart Radio is supporting through streaming services so, from my box of mics and mini mixer, via my laptop to the Dartington studio on the hill, onto the Internet proper and then the FM bandwidth, I'm hoping to open up a platform for sharing news and ideas - a drop in radio hour for all the good and news worthy wonders of the local area. If i wasn't making it, i hope it will be the kind of radio I'd be listening to myself whist making the dinner or driving home from work : a mix of local music, debate, chat, events, reviews, oddities, more local music and news....
I've been turning the idea of a Totnes Media Co-op over and over in my mind for a few years. There have been a few good attempts to get a indie paper going here, but unfortunately none have made it beyond first issues. I think all have agreed that media are a essential aspect of social infrastructure which belong better in the realm of the public, rather than as the domain of the private sector.
Grassroots media and community journalism seem to be becoming more and more popular and relevant, as large mass media is revealed to have self serving allegiances tied to political and corporate dealings. Hand made productions and community run projects don't mean a lack of authenticity - I think its rather the opposite. Mass media and highly produced productions can of course be wondrous, informative, entertaining and have a important role in the mediascape- but there are qualities in small scale endeavours serving localities which regional and national platforms cannot reproduce (here, for example, is my current favorite highly reputed citizen journalist Scriptonite -eloquent, well researched, enlightening). Just because a media product is 'popular', or the word 'community' is part of it's TM title doesn't make it accessible truthful or democratic. There's a whole load of paradoxes here really worth pondering, such as the ideas of 'objective' media, and the worth of 'mainstream values'.
I hope 'Live In Totnes' can be part of opening up our community radio further into our community. I am taking inspiration from Free Radio pioneer Tetsuo Kogawa, who kick started miniFM in Japan in the 1980's, His work showed that broadcasting meetings around tables, from accessible rooms with a open doors, could break down walls and open new ways of viewing how media can be enjoyed and harnessed to empower the wider community.
Here and now, its a experiment : and hopefully, it will be a whole lot of fun too....
News on a local event? Bring it!
Thoughts on a public issue? Yes please!
Something happening, happened, or should happen? Wing it down to 'Live in Totnes' and share them thoughts....
This show has potential for a lot of contribution - from phone in interviews and comments online, to folks making their own reports and contributing one-off or regular segments, to 'the open door' really being embraced and listeners coming up to the cafe or public room we're using that evening and joining in the conversation live on the show. Maybe the angle is more a collaborative one then - by making the show super flexible and regular, I reckon there will be a 'in' for all kinds of voices- a right proper mix, reflecting the diversity and passions of our area.
I'm casting about for venues and co-hosts currently, and looking forwards to it immensely-
and reminded of a post I made here 2 years ago for a set of shows - Town Crier is done, but 'Live in Totnes' plans to revisit some of the same territory :
"Hear Ye!!! Town Crier is a a hour of news, opinion, interviews and reporting that aims to elucidate local matters : with a focus on projects, developments, activities and events that are of public and social import.
Oyez, Oyez, Oyez!
Civic journalism is a type of journalism that can be best described as place-specific, amateur, impassioned, and embedded in the community of which it speaks. Town Crier is based in Totnes, and on the airwaves of Soundart Radio : relevant, irreverent, focused, and broadcast with an invitation: if you would like to participate, with a news story, as a reporter, or in any other way please get in touch."
'Citing!!!
