Get Involved With Zetland FM

The presenter acts as the voice and host for the local community, serving to both inform and entertain the specific audience the station is licensed to serve. Unlike commercial radio, their primary focus is on social gain and providing a platform for local voices and underrepresented groups. The role is often a voluntary one, requiring the presenter to be a motivated, enthusiastic individual deeply connected to the local area.

In their day-to-day duties, the presenter is a multi-skilled individual who doesn't just talk, but also handles much of the show's production. This involves researching and preparing content, which often includes local news, traffic, events, and conducting live or pre-recorded interviews with local charities, businesses, or residents. They must be adept at engaging with listeners, whether through phone-ins, social media interaction, or making personal appearances at station events. A core responsibility is ensuring the broadcast adheres to the Ofcom Broadcast Code to protect the station's license. Furthermore, presenters often operate the studio desk themselves, cueing up music, jingles, and managing the technical aspects of the broadcast to keep the show running smoothly to a high standard, whether presenting live or voice-tracking. Ultimately, they are responsible for creating a consistent, engaging, and locally relevant programme that fosters a strong connection with the community.

The role of a Producer is fundamentally to be the creative and logistical mastermind behind a programme, ensuring the overall content and production aligns with the station's mission to serve its specific local audience. Given that community stations are often volunteer-driven and non-profit, the producer's responsibilities are typically broad and hands-on, encompassing duties that might be spread across multiple people in a larger, commercial station. They are the organiser-in-chief, generating and developing fresh programme ideas that reflect local cultures and interests. This involves significant research, finding and booking relevant guests and community contributors whose stories are vital to the station’s local focus.

A producer must meticulously plan the show's structure, which includes drawing up the running order and scripts, as well as selecting appropriate music or other audio elements. They work closely with presenters, acting as their crucial support and technical director in the studio, often operating the desk during a live broadcast to manage music queues and sound levels. Crucially, they are responsible for the technical production, which includes recording and editing audio packages, and ensuring all material meets copyright and media law requirements. Unlike paid roles in national radio, a community producer may work on a voluntary basis, contributing not just to on-air content but also to the station's digital presence by updating the website or social media. Their ultimate goal is to deliver high-quality, distinctive, and locally-focused output that fosters community engagement and provides training opportunities, embodying the spirit of community radio.

The role of a reporter is intrinsically linked to the station's mission: to give a voice to the local community and cover stories often overlooked by larger media outlets. Unlike reporters at major networks, the community reporter typically has a broad, multi-skilled remit, combining the duties of a traditional broadcast journalist and a hyper-local content producer. Their primary focus is to engage with people in a defined geographic area or community of interest, cultivating strong relationships and networks both in-person and online to source original, relevant stories.

A community radio reporter spends significant time out in the 'patch', attending local meetings, events, and talking to residents to generate unique content. They are responsible for the entire lifecycle of a story: researching, verifying facts, conducting interviews, and then producing the final broadcast-ready package. This involves writing scripts for news bulletins and features, recording and editing audio using technical equipment, and often presenting their own reports live or pre-recorded on-air. They must have a keen understanding of media law, particularly concerning libel and court reporting, as accuracy is paramount. Ultimately, their job is to ensure the station's output truly reflects the concerns, issues, and positive happenings of the community it serves, transforming local information into engaging, balanced, and accurate radio journalism.

A journalist plays a vital, multifaceted role that centers on serving the local area, often with limited resources. Unlike their counterparts in larger media organizations, a community radio journalist is typically a generalist, expected to cover a wide range of tasks from pitch to publication. Their primary function is to focus on hyper-local news that directly affects the station's listening community, providing a platform for stories and voices that might be overlooked by regional or national broadcasters.

This involves diligently sourcing, researching, and verifying stories relevant to the immediate locality, such as local council decisions, school events, charity initiatives, and human-interest features. They are the station's ears and eyes on the ground, attending local meetings, building relationships with community leaders, and establishing a network of contacts. The practical duties are broad: the journalist will often be a reporter, editor, presenter, and producer all in one. They are responsible for writing news scripts, conducting and editing interviews—which may involve operating recording equipment and editing software—and then often presenting the news bulletins live on air.

Crucially, the role extends beyond just reporting. A community radio journalist is a community champion and an advocate for local dialogue. They manage social media updates, contribute to the station's website, and work to ensure the station is an accessible, inclusive platform for diverse local voices. This connection to the community is their unique strength, fostering a sense of local identity and holding local power to account in a manner that is accessible and engaging to their neighbors. They are essential to the station’s mission of providing relevant, timely, and impactful local information.

The Website Editor is crucial for extending the station's local presence and mission into the digital realm, transforming the broadcast output into engaging online content. This role involves more than simple uploading; it requires strong editorial judgement to select, write, and polish news, features, and programme descriptions provided by volunteer presenters and staff, ensuring all material is accurate, grammatically correct, and aligns with the station's style and community focus.

A major duty is content management—using a Content Management System (CMS) to schedule new posts, update show pages, manage presenter biographies, and publish local news stories or community event details. They must also ensure that the website and its content adhere to relevant media law and OFCOM guidelines, protecting the non-profit station from libel or other compliance issues. Furthermore, the editor is often responsible for the site's overall digital health and promotion, employing basic Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) techniques to increase visibility, improving website accessibility for all users, and maintaining brand consistency across the site. They work collaboratively with the marketing and social media teams to create a unified digital strategy, and they might also analyse website traffic data to better understand the audience and inform future content planning. Essentially, the Website Editor acts as the digital gatekeeper, ensuring the radio station's community spirit and local relevance shine online.

The Technical volunteers are the central figures for all broadcast engineering and IT systems, ensuring the station remains on-air, operational, and legally compliant with Ofcom's technical specifications. This role goes beyond simple maintenance; they are a technical producer who provides essential creative and technical support to the volunteer presenters and production teams. They manage the entire technical infrastructure, which includes the studio equipment, play-out systems, editing software, and the crucial transmission equipment. Given the limited resources of a community station, they must be adept at problem-solving equipment issues quickly and calmly, often needing to troubleshoot with minimal outside support.

A key part of their job involves training and development for volunteers, teaching them how to use the equipment properly for live shows, recording segments, and creating podcasts. They oversee the quality of the station's technical output and are often responsible for the station's website content related to their broadcast, like uploading podcasts and checking for content usage. They are responsible for implementing and managing Health and Safety protocols related to the technical environment and equipment. They also play a vital part in planning for outside broadcasts or live band sessions, designing temporary studio solutions. In essence, they are the indispensable link between the station's community-focused content and the technology that makes its broadcast possible, demanding a blend of technical expertise, organisation, and excellent communication skills to work effectively with staff and volunteers.

The role of an admin volunteer is essential for the smooth day-to-day operation, acting as the backbone of the organization. This position typically involves a diverse set of organizational and support tasks that free up the core broadcasting and production teams to focus on creating content.

A major part of the role is handling general office duties. This includes answering phone calls and emails, managing the station's correspondence, and maintaining organized filing systems, both digital and physical. The volunteer often acts as the first point of contact, providing a friendly and welcoming face or voice to visitors, listeners, and potential partners.

Furthermore, admin volunteers are crucial in managing schedules and logistics. This might involve coordinating volunteer rotas, booking studio time, or arranging meetings for the station's management or programming committees. They may also assist with basic financial administration, such as processing expense forms, managing petty cash, or tracking small donations, always under the guidance of a station manager or treasurer.

Crucially, the admin volunteer provides support for station events and outreach. This could involve preparing materials for fundraising drives, community engagement events, or training sessions. They might also help maintain the station's database of contacts, including sponsors, community groups, and other stakeholders. Ultimately, the administrative volunteer's commitment to detail and efficiency ensures that the community radio station can consistently meet its regulatory requirements and fulfill its mission to serve the local community.