Production Vacancies

The Elmbridge, Runnymede and Spelthorne Talking Newspaper Association (ERSTN) is a free service providing recorded digests of local newspapers as well as other topics of interest on digital sticks for visually impaired people or those who are unable to read for themselves.

On Mondays two volunteers open the post, checking the pouches that have been returned by listeners, noting any changes in the register and prepare the address cards for Friday.  Some knowledge of spreadsheets is required.

On Tuesdays, a scriptwriter prepares the script for the Friday recording from local news sites and including any information that may have been received by post or email.  This can be done from the studio computer or from home.

Interviewing of local celebrities, recording of items of special interest and maintenance take place on Wednesday or Thursday.

On Friday mornings, two readers (or presenters, as we call them) select items from the local newspapers for recording, which are then recorded on the master stick by the recording engineer.

On Friday afternoons the copying team make the required copy recordings onto mp3 sticks, insert the address cards in the pouches and take the mailbags to the Post Office to catch the afternoon post.  Listeners should receive their pouches on Saturday.

What skills do I need?

Script writers:  Tuesday/Wednesday.  Some knowledge of the internet and computer literacy is required.  There is a template of the script to which any local news or events are added.  This can be done on the studio computer or from home.

Administration:  Hon.Secretary - the secretary is standing down after five years in the position.

Volunteer/recruiting:  the current volunteer representative is retiring for health reasons.

Compiler/Editor:  to plan recordings for the week and prepare an outline of material.

Publicity:  keeping the name of Talking Newspaper in the public eye, writing press releases and networking.  Use of digital streaming.

There is a four week rota.  Each task normally takes approximately two hours and new volunteers will be mentored.