Today I have done something for the first time, something that I have never done before; I have been on the radio. Not a national station but Bishop FM 105.8 serving the towns and villages in that corner of Durham. I’m not sure how it came across for the listening public but on reflection it was an enjoyable, if not slightly surreal experience, surreal in that you know that you are talking and that people are listening but you have no idea who or how many. I had expected it to be a recorded piece to go out later in the day but no, it was live and it has been and gone and my voice is now cast to the four winds and is making its way at the speed of light to Alpha Centauri.
It all came about as part of the Digital Durham programme to get superfast broadband to everyone across the county and we are using all forms of media to try and get the message out there, Twitter, Facebook, news-letters, presentations, local press you name it, we’ve tried them all except for television and radio, that is until today.
Fortunately I had been advised to prepare some questions in advance for the presenter to ask, or at least some general areas of conversation and this is what Paul Gittins, county councillor and radio personality had in his hand when he met me at reception before he whisked me through to the studio.
‘Just talk naturally’ he said as we settled down around the microphones and radio paraphernalia, ‘Imagine that there is just you and me in the room.’ And I did and it was all very interesting. We chatted normally, chewed the cud about nothing in particular while Madonna played over the airwaves but as soon as she had faded (in singing not in general) and the live mike sign had turned red Paul switched to his radio personality and the words flowed from him like lager on a hot day.
The weather was read and then another record (was it Billy Joel?) and then it was my turn. The first question was asked and I said what I had to say. There was a bit more banter and another record but don’t ask me who it was this time. Next came the second question and it was all going swimmingly until Paul decided to get up and close the door whilst I was replying and so there I was, live on air and flying solo. Fortunately I had the composure to keep speaking to his chair as if nothing had happened, as if I was a natural and I think we got away with it.
As quick as it had started it was over and we said our goodbyes and thoughts had turned to the next guests, another councillor talking about work going on with the local marketplace followed by an eighty year old who dresses up as a centurion and marches up and down the bypass. It was all good stuff and all grist for local radio.
So that is me done, there is another notch in my belt of experience and I’m a richer person for it but what is really strange is that I have just received an invite to be on another radio station, Radio Teesdale, this time on their business programme. My radio career is snowballing!
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 