Bishop’s Stortford and District Talking Newspaper Reader’s Role
Volunteers are required, initially as reserves, to record local news audio files. Readers are called upon to spend an hour or so on a Wednesday afternoon or evening (Reader’s preference) once every 6 weeks, reading and recording, in their own home, short newspaper articles, allocated to them by that week’s Editor. Readers need some knowledge of audio recording on an electronic device such as a mobile phone, laptop, tablet computer or desktop computer, and have the ability to email the recordings to the Technician who is responsible for compiling them, with other readers’ files, for that week’s edition. Each week’s edition is then sent out by Distributors on USB sticks to visually impaired listeners free of charge (including no postage). Reserves are sought to cover for regular readers when the latter are unavailable for a particular week’s recording. It is anticipated that as and when there is a vacancy for a regular reader this will be filled by a reserve. Everyone involved is an unpaid volunteer.
Activities
1. Obtain electronic (BSTN has its own subscription to the Bishop’s Stortford Independent) or hard copy of the local newspaper.
2. Follow instructions from notes, prepared by the Editor, telling each reader what to read, together with any special instructions.
3. Email the recorded files to the week’s technician before 9pm Wednesday evening.
Note
Full training will be given, to include help in obtaining the reading material, recording it and emailing it to the Technician.
Go to bstalkingnewspaper.co.uk for further information and contact details
Bishop’s Stortford and District Talking Newspaper Technician’s Role
Volunteer required to assist other Technicians in preparing weekly news audio files which are sent on USB memory sticks to visually impaired listeners. The new volunteer will spend approximately 3 hours one Wednesday evening (sometimes running into Thursday morning) every 5 to 6 weeks on a rotating basis preparing the audio files at home. He/she will need some computer skills and a home computer (Microsoft Windows or Apple OS) so that the audio files received by email can be adjusted for length and volume before being placed in order on a memory stick which is then delivered to the studio in Herts & Essex Community Hospital for copying and distribution.
Activities
1. Receive emails with audio files from each of the week’s 4 readers and the “Running Order” from the Editor.
2. Select and prepare a suitable Interlude Music file.
3. Use software to trim and adjust volume of each file received.
4. Save(export) each modified file to .mp3 format.
5. Check complete recording against “Running Order”.
6. Copy complete recording to 2 memory sticks.
7. Deliver memory sticks to studio.
8. Upload recording to website.
Note
Experience with Adobe Audition or open source Audacity an advantage, but full training will be given. Own transport to take memory sticks to studio is essential.
Go to bstalkingnewspaper.co.uk for further information and contact details