13 May 2010
Dover Community Radio
A Feature By Terry Cleaver
'Bringing Community Media to Dover'
Dover Community Radio (DCR) aims to become a new media service for the benefit of Dover. DCR for short, will aim to promote and be positive about Dover as well as introduce new opportunities for community groups and individuals to reach a wider audience. DCR will begin initially as a pod-cast internet based station offering interviews and features based on Dover on its website which will allow people to find out more about the town and the surrounding areas. These will be under categories (for example 'Events') on the website so the 'listener' can pick and mix what features they wish to tune into – these features maybe interviews with community leaders, events coverage, features on Dover's history for example or excerpts of local gigs.
The aim is to bring together people to make and produce these as well as promoting the word of the station.
Funding and premises will then be sought to set up a Internet based community radio station for Dover promoting the town to its inhabitants and visitors alike. This station will offer programming differing to that already available on the dial in the locality as well as offering training schemes to local students, and those interested in the medium. DCR also aims to work with local groups to promote them through 'forward thinking' programming enabling them to introduce their work to a wider audience – this maybe local arts groups, history societies or drama organisations. The aims are to provide a service to promote community cohesion in the town and offer an insight into the locality for visitors. Music and entertainment of all genres including specialist music programmes (e.g. Jazz, Rock) will be included on the station. This service will be streamed on-line using the DCR website.
Once funding has been sought DCR aims to broadcast on air once a year on FM or MW across the town covering local events e.g. The Dover Regatta,, using a 'Restricted Service Licence'. This will offer the chance for the station to become known throughout the community not just to those listeners on the Internet enabling more community groups and individuals to become involved. It is hoped any new listeners gained will then tune into the on-line service. DCR hopes working with local educational establishments such as schools will enable such a project to succeed.
This may also in the future lead to the station to apply for a 5 year community radio licence to cover Dover using FM or MW which will run alongside the Internet service. It is hoped DCR will have a good coverage at local events as members will be at events producing features and promoting the service to potential listeners, therefore providing a service through face to face contact as well as on-line or through the sound medium. The coverage area for the station will be Dover and between 8-10 miles surrounding as this will be that covered by the potential event and community radio licences. This means the service, although centred on Dover, will also be available in the outlying villages (e.g. Lydden, Hougham, Capel-Le-Ferne, St Margaret's, Elvington) and promote them as well.
LATEST : Unfortunately we couldnt get this feature, written by Terry, up before the Meeting at the White Horse Inn last Monday but here is the latest press release just in with updated info...Dover Community Radio's (DCR) first meeting took place on Monday 10th May 2010 at The White Horse pub in Dover's St James Street. The meeting was well attended, including representatives from local arts organisations, councils, web designers, local business people and radio enthusiasts. The meeting was very positive with a unanimous decision to raise funds during the summer. We aim for the station to come on air for a temporary period for this year’s Christmas Extravaganza and Lights Switch On in November.
It is hoped local schools and colleges can get involved with the production and presentation on the station. Programming will consist of local community programming with features on events and organisations recorded during the summer months, alternative and chart based music as well as unsigned local bands and art-based programming. The first broadcast of DCR will be “positive” about Dover and promote the town to both visitors and locals alike.
DCR will also be “community focused” by having programming created by the local community and education establishments, and therefore encouraging training in media related industries. This will be a great opportunity to broadcast the best of Dover and also be a trial for a dedicated community radio service for the town. We are considering offering podcasts of features relevant to the Dover community to be included on the website and we are encouraging local community organisations to become involved.
The next step is to secure funding to run the station. We are appealing to local businesses and potential sponsors for advertising and sponsorship to help the station get on air. If you are interested please do contact us on info@dovercommunityradio.co.uk.
We are encouraging all members of the community to get involved in this exciting opportunity to promote Dover in a positive and entertaining light. If you are interested, please drop us an email on the addresses above or visit our website at www.dovercommunityradio.co.uk. We also have a group on Facebook – just search “Dover Community Radio”,
The next meeting will take place on Monday 21st June 2010 at 7pm at The White Horse Pub, St James' Street, Dover. We look forward to seeing you!
End.
Picture: One from the Doverforum archives..it shows Terry Cleaver left with colleague Andy Broughton taken the night the Dover Hospital Radio closed down. If I remember rightly it served Buckland Hospital.
