Reading's Talking Newspaper

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Becoming A Volunteer

There are a variety of interesting jobs to be done and our volunteers bring a wide range of skills to the organisation. Some volunteers are in full time employment, others are retired and the mix is useful to cover daytime and evening production sessions. It is important to us to have the right person in the right job, either in front of the microphone or behind the scenes. Reliability and commitment are essential amongst all the volunteers.

Below is a summary of the main jobs

Producer

Producers work Wednesday afternoons or evenings on a rota system, depending on the team and the time of year. The Producer also:

• Ensures good sound quality on the master tape
• Is familiar with the recording equipment controls
• Ensures the mikes are correctly set up
• Records to a satisfactory standard
• Times the recordings to last for 44 minutes a side.

If you are interested see contact details

Editor

The editor selects the news stories for side 1 of the tape from the week's local newspapers. It is important that the news stories selected are a true representation of the week's local news coverage.

• Culls the local newspapers for the previous 7 days.
• Selects enough stories to last 44 minutes plus 10 minutes for reserve.
• Edits out certain words e.g. today, yesterday etc.
• Ensures incomplete court cases are concluded with "case continues".
• Looks for other items which may be used on side 2.

If you are interested see contact details

Studio Manager

The studio manager is responsible for ensuring that the...

• Ensures tape and wallets stocks are sufficient.
• Repairs or gets repaired all electrical equipment.
• Is familiar with the controls so as to be able to advise others.
• Carries out regular cable connection and electrical checks (not statutory tests).

If you are interested see contact details

Newsreader

Articles which have been selected by the editor are read by a team of three readers plus the editor. Variety in the reader's voices adds to the interest of the listener so it is essential that the four readers are different in sound but work as a team. Newsreaders are needed for an hour and a half or so on Wednesday on a rota basis.

• Must have a clear voice.
• Must be proficient in reading skills.
• Must be at the studio a few minutes before the recording session to scan the items for misspelt or difficult words etc.

If you are interested see contact details

Copier

About 200 Tapes are sent out each week in special bright yellow wallets and are returned by the listeners for reuse. Postage is free to and from blind & vision impaired persons. The Copying team of 4 persons work on a Thursday, afternoon or evening, depending on the preference and availability of members.

One or more members of the team should be able to operate the Copying machines.

Other tasks that have to be done are

• Unpack the returned wallets and look for messages.
• Erase tapes with a hand held bulk eraser.
• Check the recording on tape with a simple tape playing machine.
• Repack the tapes in wallets for despatch.
• Process the Register of Listeners.

If you are interested see contact details

Publicity Officer

Publicity is needed to ensure people in the Reading area know about our service.

• Gets the aims and objects of this Association known in and around Reading.
• Reaches potential listeners, volunteers and benefactors.
• Produces high quality information in various formats.

Treasurer

• Keeps a record of all incoming and outgoing finances.
• Ensures accounts are in credit.
• Invests financial assets in a safe investment and receive good return.
• Makes easy arrangements to be able to pay into accounts.
• Has three signatures which allows for two to sign at anytime.
• Attends Committee Meeting and reports.
• Arranges for audited accounts to be presented at the AGM.

Secretary

The secretary is responsible for correspondence and meetings organisation.

• Minutes and Agendas of Committee Meetings.
• Minutes and Agendas of AGM.
• Replies to letters.

Chairman

• Chairs Committee Meetings and AGM.
• Manages the general organisation.
• Resolves any problems relating to listeners or volunteers.

Ffull contact details

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