MAY/JUNE 2012

News Update

Welcome to another edition of our regular news updates for 2012. This is an opportunity for volunteers and staff to catch up on what’s happening in Near. It is available via email, online and good old fashioned hard copy. Thanks to all the staff and volunteer s who contributed to this issue. This issue covers a number of exciting new radio series, new drama, the official launch of our intercultural project and much more. Don’t forget you can contact me ([email protected]) if you want to contribute to any edition of the Staff Contact List newsletter. Based at the Northside Civic Centre ( 8671190) Dave O Connor Editor/Secretary Near Media Co Op Radio Coordinator - [email protected] Technical & Studio Issues - [email protected] Near Media Committee of Technology & Website - [email protected] Management Administration & Introductory Training - [email protected] Vincent Teeling (Chair) Overall Project Coordinator - [email protected] Heidi Bedell (Vice Chair) On-air promos & Schedules – [email protected] Dave O’Connor (Secretary) (Liam Johnson) Peter Cunningham (Treasurer) Declan Cahill Based at the Development Centre (8485211) Deborah Gaffney Nell Fitzpatrick Intercultural Co Coordinator – [email protected] Bronwen Maher Promotions – [email protected] (Niall Mc Guinness) Stephen Blayds IT Admin/Training – [email protected] Shannette Budhai Productions and Specialist Training - [email protected] Outreach & OBs - [email protected] TV Coordinator - [email protected] The AGM of the Co-Operative Society that runs Near Media Co-op was held during May. The newly elected Committee and Executive met after the AGM and set about planning for the coming year.

MAY/JUNE 2012

Welcome to new radio makers. We have a number of new programmes on air, well done everyone for starting a new show!  'Qu'est ce que c'est le Craic?’ a French language programme, Wednesdays from 4.00-4.30pm with Parisian Eleonore Nicholas

 ‘Youth voices’ Saturdays from 12.30-1.30 with Thomas Moran alternating with ‘The Blitz’ presented by Ross Kelly

 ‘Relaxation Room’ Sundays 10-11.30 with Colm Marren alternating with ‘Dig Deep’ with Mark Finn

 Also new on air is Peter Kearny who joined Lifeline on Tuesday mornings from 9.30-11.00am

Social News Congratulations to Near TV Coordinator Elaine King on her recent marriage.

Near Media Co-Op extend its condolences to Lesley Murphy on the recent death of her father Mick.

'Qu'est ce que c'est le Craic?’ Wednesdays To mark the 50th anniversary of the closure of the Theatre from 4.00-4.30pm Royal in Conor Doyle, Aine Clancy and Susan Tomelty have produced a four part series about the theatre. Relive the magic of Theatre Royal and listen to the series marking the 50th anniversary since the theatre closed its doors.

Saturday 30th June @ 12.30-1.30 pm Thursday 5th July 3.30-4.30pm Thursday 12th July 3.30-4.30pm Thursday 19th July 3.30-4.30pm

The official launch will be in the Foyer of the Norhtside Civic Centre on Wednesday July 4th. The exact time to be confirmed and notified on a poster in the station.

Relive the magic of Theatre Royal and listen to the series marking the 50th anniversary since the theatre closed its doors.

MAY/JUNE 2012 Launch of new website near.ie / near co - op meeting 2012 All staff and volunteers are invited you to the launch of the new Near.ie website and Co-op meeting early next month. We’ll meet ‘Turn a New Leaf’, a programme, which is all up for an hour or two to discuss the about books being read on Nearfm, is broadcast live progress of Near Media co-op and what is every Monday morning at 9.30am and is presented by happening in general in the organisation. Declan Cahill. There are some exciting developments taking place, such as the Festival of The first book in this series is ‘Danny Dempsey and Community Television and the new website. The Unlikely Alliance’ by Denis Byrne, a writer and playwright from Artane. The book is aimed at school rd th th th Date: Tuesday July 3 2012 children in 4 , 5 and 6 classes in Primary Schools. Time: 7.30pm The main objectives are to encourage children to read Location: Conference Room 1 in the more and to write their own stories. Northside Civic Centre

A special edition of ‘Turn a New Leaf’ was broadcast on The agenda further entails: 28 May 2012, when boys from St. Davids Boys National School, Kilmore Road, Artane, came into the studio in · Get to know other programme Nearfm to: makers (a) read their own stories and also · Radio programming review (b) read from the Danny Dempsey book. · Neartv piece

· Strategic development The boys involved were: · Importance of promotion * Cian Russell & Alan Abinish – Room 14 – Mr. Ryan’s · AOB Class * Gareth Lyons & Francis Santos – Room 16 – Ms This will be a great opportunity to meet Lyons’s Class other volunteers and staff, to get to know * Nathan Moloney & Jake Boyle – Room 15 – Mr. other presenters/producers, to find out Moloney’s Class. about other programmes and opportunities They were accompanied by their parents and the acting to link in, to give feedback to Near Media School Principal, Mr. Dwain Moore. Co-op, ask questions and so on.

The boys received a little ‘goody bag’ from Nears All volunteers and staff welcome! Outreach Co-ordinator, Dorothee Meyer-Holtkamp. And each was also presented with a signed copy of ‘Danny Please RSVP by Friday June 29th 5pm to Dempsey and The Unlikely Alliance with the [email protected] so we can make compliments of the author, Denis Byrne. arrangements for tea/coffee and cheese and wine. Yes, there will be some drinks! The boys’ stories were excellent and we all hope that they will continue their writing. ..and a wander to a local pub with anyone

who is up for a post-launch pint. Declan Cahill, Presenter/Producer

www.Near.ie

www.nearpodcast.org MAY/JUNE 2012

Upcoming Outside Broadcasts As in previous years we will be going live from a number

of Family Fun Festivals happening on the northside of Dublin this so called summer. Over the next few months we will be going live from 4 different festivals, with our first being last Saturday June 23rd at the Family Fun Festival. Live broadcast from 2.00-5.00.

The following ones will be:

nd · Sunday July 22 Family Festival, broadcasting from 1.00-4.00 exact time to be confirmed

· Saturday 18th August Edenmore, broadcasting from 1.00-4.00 exact times to be confirmed

· Saturday 8th September, Drumcondra, date and broadcasting time to be confirmed

Get in touch with [email protected]/ 01.8485211 if you would like to get involved or if you have an idea about another event to go live from.

Studio Rules

The Red Light on means “Don’t enter”!! Studio duty personnel may need to enter in certain circumstances.

Headphones – Use them. ! You can’t monitor your voice and other output levels without them. Maybe, you’re not being heard? You’ll never know, without headphones.

Guest Microphones – Monitor their levels. Are you using the right fader. Remember to use prefade listen beforehand.

Drinks – Liquids are a no no anywhere near radio equipment. “LEVELS FROM BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT CHANNELS Papers – Bring them in for your programme. Take them away afterwards!! Messy studios lead to messy SHOULD BE PEAKING programme. AROUND 6” Start on time – Finish on Time. Leave room for promos. Don’t leave the next presenter waiting!!

MAY/JUNE 2012

Smartphone and Online Listening Have a Smartphone?

Watch and listen to Nearfm live at www.livestream.com/nearfm

Have a laptop or PC?

You can still watch and listen to Nearfm live at www.livestream.com/nearfm

Or you can download apps such as Tuneinradio or Wunderradio

You can listen to Near Fm on your Smartphone! www.livestream.com/nearfm

Who’s on Twitter? Are you?

Follow @nearfm @neartv @nearfmbtl @pridetimenearfm @oconnear @djdaley @backtrackingnow @localbizmatters @ARobinsonBL @nearfmsessions @ciaranmurray13 @aleaking @meyerdh @leftofthedialr @aoifeniccanna

If you want to join our network send a tweet to @nearfm and we’ll follow you too.

We’re on twitter – are you ? Use the hash tags #nearfm #neartv # and we might even start a trend!!

JOIN THE CONVERSATION AT TWITTER.COM/NEARFM

MAY/JUNE 2012

Community Radio Around Ireland .

New Community Station for Rosses Donegal A public meeting to discuss a new Community Radio station in the Rosses, Co. Donegal was held on 6th February in Ionad Teampaill Chróine, Dungloe. Since the new year, there has been an expression of interest from new groups wishing to set community radio stations in Borrisokane, Tullamore, Carrigtwohill, Durrow, Killala, and Carrigaline.

Student Radio Takeover On Saturday March 3rd, DCUfm hosted a Student Radio Takeover where six student radio stations collectively presented a day of radio which was streamed by each of the stations. DCUfm, Flirt FM, Trinity FM, Belfield FM, Queens Radio, & UL took part. New page on the Craol Website There's a new page on the Craol Website dedicated to Craol Irish Language Development. Check it out under the “about” tab (Irish Language Development) or by clicking http://t.co/QDZhTiNv

A Voice for Communities, a landmark 6 part Craol series charting the story of community radio in Ireland was launched on Saturday 26th May at the gala dinner of the annual Craol Féile by Michael O'Keeffe, Chief Executive of the BAI. The 6 programmes are now available to download and re-broadcast from this link: http://bit.ly/Lvpcru The series was produced by Grey Heron Media, working with community stations nationwide for Craol. The series was funded by Sound and Vision, the Broadcast Funding Scheme of the BAI. Each programme looks at one aspect of the vibrant Community Radio movement in Ireland, from the struggle to get on air through the role of the volunteer & community impact of stations to the future of the movement, the series captures the variety of voices and perspectives that drive this powerful community development movement.

Near fm is one of 24 fully licenced community radio stations in the Republic of Ireland (six in Dublin, two in the rest of Leinster, two in Ulster, five in Connaught, and nine in Munster. A new national community radio listenership was published in May which shows the growth in democratically owned and control community radio.

Some of the main highlights are:  That Community Radio in the Republic of Ireland has a collective weekly reach of 307,465 (34%). To put this in perspective, this is greater than the combined population of counties Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Longford (302,569 Census 2011).  22% of those surveyed listened to community radio “Yesterday”.  83% of those who have ever listened to Community Radio tuned in “last week” relative to the day surveyed.  37% of people stated that their reason for listening to Community Radio was that it featured "local voices/local people  38% of all adults in community radio catchment areas are aware of the opportunities provided by community radio to promote community events & activities.

The full results of the survey can be downloaded at www.craol.ie

. MAY/JUNE 2012 What is Interculturalism? Is a new short video now online it can be viewed at http://neartv.ie/what-is- interculturalism/

In this video, the individuals behind Near FM’s intercultural project and the Culture Shots radio series spent the day out on Bull Island, reflecting on their experiences of the project, and what interculturalism is all about. To learn more about the project, please log on tonearintercultural.ie. Listen back to past Culture Shots programmes at: nearpodcast.org/CultureShots.

A Royal Visit from Lesotho is a short piece on the visit of King and Queen of Lesotho to Portmarnock Community School. Portmarnock Community School hosted the Royal visitors in May 2012. Groups of young people from the school visit Lesotho. We will soon be releasing another video with the young people discussing this experience.

To see the video on the royal visit please go to http://neartv.ie/a-royal-visit-from-lesotho/

The Near FM sessions on TV have continued to thrive, and is being filmed on a weekly basis – streaming live online every week; The current episode feature ‘Policy’, ‘Dayo and the Swing Folk’ and ‘Sal Vitro’ All available for viewing on http://neartv.ie/

“NEARFM SESSIONS IS NOW STREAMING LIVE EACH Dayo and the Swingfolk – Nearfm Sessions on 90.3 Nearfm THURSDAY AT 8PM” MAY/JUNE 2012

Near Intercultural

In May, Near FM welcomed a new group of 9

intercultural project participants. Nalini, Deirdre, Malika, Claire, Ecaterina, Bronagh, Luis, Lawrence and Leah will complete a FETAC Level 4 in Community Radio and Intercultural Media Literacy, and go on to produce the third series of Culture Shots programmes. So far the group are finishing off their FETAC assignments and are in the early stages of sketching ideas for their first few programmes. At this year’s Craol Feile, Culture Shots series 2 received a Distinction in the category of Social Benefit from the Craol Achievement Awards Committee. Congratulations to Mariaam, Eoin, Hailuu, Peig, Roseline, Marie, Vera, Sudhansh and Jim for all their hard work on the series! In late May, Intercultural Coordinator Grace Wilentz and Culture Shots presenter Mariaam Bhatti spoke on a panel exploring “The Future of Diversity in Irish Media” at the launch of a research report from DCU’s Mediva project. The Mediva project seeks to strengthen the capacity of the media to reflect the increasing diversity of European societies, and to promote immigrant integration and participation. The report explored the place of diversity in the work of media organizations, with a special focus on training. The key findings and recommendations from the report stated that, “Mainstream media should look to the community media sector, which has been much more active in building diversity policy and undertaking training initiatives” and that “community media are ‘participative’ while, to date, mainstream media have been merely ‘illustrative’ (with regard to diversity).”to celebrate all the Culture Shots production teams have Participant Peig McManus shakes hands with the Minister for Justice and Equality Alan Shatter before achieved! receiving her FETAC award You can tune in to Culture Shots on 90.3 fm or live th On the evening of Wednesday, June 13 the stream at www.near.ie each week, Mondays from 6.30 Culture Shots radio series was officially to 7. To listen to past episodes, log on to: launched at European House on Dawson www.nearpodcast.org/CultureShots Street. Featured speakers included Chinedu Got friend in other community radio stations across Onyejelem, editor and publisher of Metro Ireland? Tell them Culture Shots programmes are Eireann, and Near fm’s own Sally Galiana. The available for broadcast by other stations via the Craol series was officially launched by the Minister programme exchange: http://craol.ie/39/0/program- for Justice and Equality Mr. Alan Shatter. exchange.html Athlone Community Radio is It was a lively evening with 100+ attendees and broadcasting them already, why don’t you? live performances on the night. Thank you to This project is co-financed by the European everyone who joined us for the launch, and a Commission under the European Integration Fund and big thank you to Niall McGuinness for all this is supported by the Office for the Promotion of Migrant hard work in making the night such a success! Integration in the Department of Justice and Equality The event was a great way to celebrate all the and Pobal. Culture Shots production teams have achieved!

MAY/JUNE 2012

Production and Training

Production – Sound and Vision Congratulations to Near volunteers Tommy Crampton, Andrew Reid, Aoife Nic Cana & Stephen Blayds who have had projects approved for funding in the latest round of Sound and Vision results. These projects are CRC Talks 3 and Story? Congratulations also to Gerry Cooley whose Return to the Pine Trees radio book series has also been funded.

Nearfm also submitted 6 new applications for S&V Round 14; results are expected back in late July. Applications for round 15 are now being compiled and ideas for Round 16 are now being welcomed, contact [email protected]

Production is complete on new S&V series Travellers Stories and Folklore from the Dancefloor. These series will air on Nearfm and be available on Podcast in the next few weeks.

Sound and Vision Drama Declan Cahill and the Near Drama Company have begun rehearsal & recording on two new S&V funded drama series, The Kay Farrell Trilogy and Rivitin History. The best of luck to all involved. Paddy Mac Donagh and Leslie Murphy

Training

Near FM will be running 3 afternoons of radio training for young people from the Sphere 17 youth facility based in from July 25th-27th, if any volunteers would like to be involved in helping to give this training please contact [email protected]

If any volunteers require additional sound desk, podcast or editing training please contact [email protected] or phone 8485211

MAY/JUNE 2012

Production and Training

Folklore from the dancefloor

For the past two years, Nearfm’s Aoife Nic Canna has been putting together a major new documentary series on the characters and stories of the Irish club scene – listeners will now be treated to all the Folklore from the Dancefloor.

The series will remember and portray the clubs and the music from the disco inferno of the late ‘70s, up through the rave explosion of the late ‘80s, and right on up to the present day’s eclectic mix.

For this six-part series of 30-minute audio shows, Aoife has recorded in-depth interviews with those who were involved – the DJs, the promoters, the dancers. Their stories are funny and memorable. Among those interviewed are Godfather of Punk Terry Hooley, FishGoDeep’s Greg Dowling, club historians and DJs Tonie Walsh and Paul Tarpey, Hot Press editor Stuart Clarke, award-winning Ignacio Irigoien is beginning work on a series of writer Kevin Barry, Scary Eire’s Dj Mek and programmes about Ireland’s presidency of the EU. European based Irish producers Sian, Arveen and Cymera. Communicating Europe The sho ws will be broadcast as part of Aoife’s regular Club Cheol slot on Nearfm which runs Near FM are delighted to be funded for the from 4.30pm to 5.30pm on Tuesdays. The first third year running by the Communicating show will go out on July 3rd and each week a Europe initiative. Producer Ignacio Irigoien guest will be invited into the studio to review the will begin making a series of programmes about Ireland’s presidency of the EU in Jan programme. 2013. He will speak to all the political A launch and party for the series will be held at parties about their hopes for the presidency The Bernard Shaw on July 8th @6pm and will and he will also speak to the people of feature Mr Tonie Walsh, along with DJs Mek, Cyprus who will hold the presidency Dandelion, David Hales, Claire Maloney, Ian Mc immediately before Ireland. Watch out for this series in December 2012!! Gready and Aoife Nic Canna. All Near staff and volunteers are welcome. “THE SERIES WILL REMEMBER AND PORTRAY THE CLUBS AND THE MUSIC FROM THE DISCO

INFERNO OF THE LATE ‘70S, UP

THROUGH THE RAVE EXPLOSION OF THE LATE ‘80S, AND RIGHT ON UP TO THE PRESENT DAY’S ECLECTIC MIX.

MAY/JUNE 2012

Production and Training

Travellers Stories – North Dublin through the eyes of the Travelling Community is an insightful new radio series produced by Northside Dublin community radio station Nearfm and Northside Traveller advocacy group Travact. Over 6 programmes, the series producer Leslie Murphy and narrator Paddy McDonagh explore the cultural identity st of Travellers in 21 century Ireland with a nod to the historical aspects of Traveller life and a particular focus on

Travellers of Northside Dublin. The series is presented in a lively manner, with meaningful interviews, music and sound effects and a wide range of contributors. The programmes show the positive and negative sides of the lives of Travellers in North Dublin and how social exclusion and discrimination hasn’t stopped Travellers improving their quality of life, while at the same time keeping their culture and traditions alive and well. The series is co-produced and edited by Paul Loughran. An official launch for the series will be announced in the coming weeks. The series will broadcast every Thursday at 6pm from June 21st on Near FM 90.3 or listen online www.near.ie The breakdown of the programmes is as follows:

Programme 1 Extended families, language, & history Programme 2 Skills, education, Labour Market/employment opportunities Programme 3 Ethnicity, Culture, weddings, Bare knuckle fighting Programme 4

Traveller accommodation, health, social aspects of Traveller life Travellers Stories – an exciting new series starting Programme 5 soon on Nearfm Achievements by Travellers in Music, sport & the arts, Religion Programme 6 Travellers & the Irish State, positive changes, Political participation “IF YOU EVER COME ACROSS

AN EVENT YOU THINK WE SHOULD ATTEND WITH THE

OB VAN, FEEL FREE TO EMAIL YOUR THOUGHTS TO [email protected]”

MAY/JUNE 2012

Near Drama Company

The Near Drama Company is in full swing at present. The members are currently working on a recording of a two-episode pilot called ‘Rivitin History’. This is a satirical look at Irish history penned by Pat Meehan. This project is being supported by the Sound & Vision Fund, BAI. The actors involved are: Joe Murphy, Fran Keogh, Ann Loughney, Con Scully, Alice Moloney, Josie Boyle, Mary Flynn, Michael Sharp, Beamie Sheahan, Mary McNamara & Liza Deegan. Gavin Byrne and Deborah Gaffney are on the other side of the glass capturing all the action while Declan Cahill is trying to direct matters. So, if you hear strange sounds emanating from Studios 2 & 3 on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons for the new few weeks, it’ll be that ‘drama crowd’ up to their antics again!!

Declan Cahill, Drama Co-Ordinator, Nearfm.

Busy busy in the recording studio