Becoming A Volunteer
A sight-impaired person listening to the local news on a USB player
There are a variety of interesting jobs to be done and our volunteers bring a wide range of skills to the organisation and do this on a rota system, being required approximately once every four to six weeks. Some volunteers are in full time employment, others are retired and the mix is useful to cover evening and afternoons 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.
Note: all volunteers must be able to reach our studio in Reading Berkshire
Below is a summary of the main jobs
Producer
The producer organising the recording
Producer recording the newsreader on the laptop
Producers work Monday evenings or afternoons on a rota system. The Producer:
- Introduces and closes each recording of the Talking News
- Ensures good sound quality on the recording
- Is familiar with the recording equipment controls
- Ensures the mikes are correctly set up
- Records to a satisfactory sound level
- Times the recording to last at least for 90 minutes.
- Produces two master USB copies of the recording ready for copying later in the week
- Replaces or reports that broken electrical equipment needs repairing or replacing.
- Is familiar with the controls so as to be able to advise others.
- Carries out regular cable connection and electrical checks (not statutory tests).
Note: We use an app which has been specially developed by one of the talking newspaper's suppliers, this makes the task of setting the recording levels, the timing and saving each article very easy, it is just a case of using the mouse. So as long as you are comfortable with using a computer we can train you to use this app.
Use this email link to contact RTN
To be a producer you will be responsible for running the session & familiar with the use of a laptop.
Editor
The editor selects the news stories to last at least 45 minutes 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.
- Collects the local newspapers - the Reading Chronicle, the Henley Standard and the Newbury Weekly news plus local free magazines at the end of the week before they cut out the articles and edit them.
- Selects enough local stories to last at least 45 minutes
- Edits out certain words e.g. today, yesterday etc.
- Checks that all dates of events occur after the listener receives his/her USB stick.
- Ensures incomplete court cases are concluded with "case continues”.
- Looks for at least another 45 minute items which are suitable for the magazine section.
Note: Full training is given by an existing editor
You can down load a full description as a PDF document here
Use this email link to contact RTN
The editor sort through the local papers for articles for the team to read
Studio Manager
The studio manager's job is to...
- Check the stocks of stationery, USB-drives and players and when low
- Liaise with technical studio manager for ordering players and USB sticks
- Liaise with committee member in charge of ordering Stationery, address cards and wallets
- Maintenance of listener data base and the register, plus a 6 monthly audit
You can down load a PDF document here giving a full job discription
Use this email link to contact RTN
Checking all is OK & doing some updating
Newsreader
A reading team taking their turn in reading the latest week's news
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 two hours or so on Monday during the day or evenings on a rota system.
- Must have a clear voice.
- Must be proficient in reading aloud.
- Must be at the studio a few minutes before the recording session to scan the items for difficult words which have or names, incorrect spelling or punctuation, dates which are advertised but will have taken place before the listener receives their memory stick.
- Must be reliable and arrange cover from another volunteer if they cannot fulfil their reading slot.
You can down load a PDF document here describing the best practise for readers.
Use this email link to contact RTN
Must be able to read in a clear voice and reliable.
Copier
Copying team erasing the returned usb drives.
Copying the latest news recording to the clean usb drives.
This takes place on a Wednesday afternoon or evening with a team of three people. One copier needs to be able to operate the USB duplicators which erase the returned USB sticks and copy the current master USB. This is a simple procedure and full training is given. Each copier is required approximately once a month and operates on a rota.
Other tasks that have to be done are
- Unpack the returned plastic wallets and separate the wallets, cards and USB sticks.
- Act on messages in the wallets from listeners messages.
- Process the register of listeners.
- Repack the USB drives in wallets and place them in two sacks for despatch.
- One person must take the labelled sacks to a Post Office
Use this email link to contact RTN
This involves checking the register and copying the weeks news onto a USB drive.
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.
Use this email link to contact RTN
Publicity is needed to ensure people in the Reading area know about our service.
Treasurer
- Keeps a record of all incoming and outgoing finances.
- Ensures accounts are in credit.
- Invests financial assets in a safe investment to receive a good return.
- Makes easy arrangements to be able to pay into accounts and to pay expenses to other volunteers.
- Has three signatures which allows for two to sign at anytime.
- Attends quarterly Committee Meeting and reports.
- Arranges for audited accounts to be presented at the AGM.
You can down load a full description as a PDF document here
Use this email link to contact RTN
Makes sure the finances are in order
Secretary
The secretary is responsible for:
- Minutes and Agendas of Committee Meetings.
- Minutes and Agendas of AGM.
- Replying to any correspondence if there is any.
Note: There are 4 committee meetings a year usually lasting no longer than a hour and a half in January, April, July and October. The AGM is on the last Tuesday in June.
Use this email link to contact RTN
Deals with minutes and correspondence
Chairman
- Chairs Committee Meetings and AGM.
- Manages the general organisation.
- Liaises with the RTN venue
- Resolves any problems relating to listeners or volunteers.
Use this email link to contact RTN
Chairs meetings and manages the general organisation.
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