Nobbut Laiking, by Ross Brewster
It’s a family thing really. That’s what makes local radio successful among the communities it serves up and down the country.
Travel anywhere, switch on to local radio, and it’s a pound to a penny that you’ll hear a presenter who is a much-loved character with a personal relationship with their audience.
That’s what the Tristrams in London don’t get, the concept of an extended family of loyal listeners.
Local radio is a key pillar of public service broadcasting. I don’t wear the idea that job cuts will somehow magic an improved service.
If the plan is accepted, 48 jobs will be cut across England. The BBC claims that it’s all about necessary “modernisation” and putting greater emphasis on digital content.
Local programming will be restricted after 2pm and instead of hearing a presenter in a local studio it could be someone many miles away as part of combining output. Whichever way you look at it, there will be less broadcasting unique to local areas.
I’m not saying local radio is all wonderful. I’ll have it on in the car as background noise, occasionally turning up the sound if there’s a report of something interesting going on in the area.
It provides lots of air time for people doing things for charity and quizzes seem popular, but its main element is the chatty link between presenter and listener.
Staff at local stations must feel they are forgotten people of the BBC. If listeners feel neglected, too, then they will switch off no matter how swishly digital it’s become.
Yes, change is inevitable. Heaven knows, I’ve seen plenty of it in the world of newspapers and the loss of so many traditional titles. Those that remain, providing a local service that you don’t get on your smartphones and tablets, should be treasured.
The BBC is making a big mistake if it thinks it can fool us into thinking less is more. If it destroys its “family” connection with the public at real grass roots level, it will demonstrate how out of touch it has become.
Quoting our very own Helen Skelton as a prime example, I wonder how many familiar voices and faces started out on local radio, perhaps doing the odd jobs, getting to read the weather report, before establishing programmes in their own right. Going on, in Helen’s instance, to national fame.
I’m not much of a fan of BBC One’s Sunday evening Countryfile, but I did enjoy the recent spotlight on Katie, the 16 year old farmer from Appleby who combines her exams with early and late duties looking after her sheep, cows and goats.
Katie made her mark with a weekly diary on Radio Cumbria during which she gives a fascinating insight into life on the family farm and the character animals — step forward Hob Nob the sheep — she looks after day to day.
Her future may well lie in farming rather than broadcasting, but she’s a natural with a microphone or television camera.
As a breeding ground for new talent, local radio is underestimated. And that’s another point the BBC’s executives ought to consider when they take the scissors to local programming.
Previous councillors wouldn’t have stood for this
Strewth, standards are dropping.
My local town council has decided that, in future, members can address meetings sitting down.
For as long as I remember they were expected to stand up if they had something to say. Respect for the chair. And yes, it’s “chair” not chairman from now on.
As a reporter I much preferred speakers to stand up. It made them easier to identify and they generally spoke more clearly than if they were in a seated talking shop where everyone was muttering.
What’s with this wokery on the part of Keswick’s gender neutral council? I can think of a few old-timers and distinguished councillors long gone who will be turning in their graves at this casual dispensation with protocol. Ironically, it’s all written down in standing orders.
I wasn’t famous enough for a one-to-one driver awareness course
Suella Braverman’s attempt to get a one-to-one driver awareness course after she was caught speeding, is no one-off.
I assumed, like most sceptical folk, that the Home Secretary was trying it on when she tried to get staff to fix it for her.
However it appears, from what celebrity lawyer Nick “Mr Loophole” Freeman says, he’s arranged lots of private courses for high profile clients. In fact, he maintains, course organisers prefer it to having a disruptive media scrum if a top footballer, politician or entertainer is involved.
Some years ago I had a brief flirtation with a speed check camera van on the A66. I was duly invited to pay the fine and take the points. I chose the course, which costs as much as the fine but avoids the three points on your licence.
Jolly interesting it was, too. I’m sure most people who attend these half-day courses drive with much greater care for a few weeks afterwards.
However being a local paper columnist clearly cuts no mustard. The official letter never plopped through my letterbox. I was not invited to a private one-on-one session.
Clearly I’m not famous enough.
