Radio Gaga
November 22nd, 2007 by CatherineToday marked the launch of Eastbourne Youth Radio’s annual stint of broadcasting, when young people from local schools and colleges will provide 50 hours of broadcast to their community. It’s the seventh year that Eastbourne’s young people have had the chance to rule the airwaves whilst working together to learn about media production in a scheme ru by Eastbourn Education Business Partnership.
Not quite knowing what to expect, I tumbled off a train into Eastbourne, and found myself being offered bucks fizz and pastries at 11.00 in the morning (it’s a hard life!). I met local business people, Eastbourne’s Mayor and the Chair of the County Council who were all very proud of the creativity and resourcefulness of this year’s young broadcasters. I would have liked a chat with some young people too, but they were far too busy putting together radio shows and putting local decision-makers through the paces in live interivews.
I did manage to squeeze into the tiny ‘Media Hut’ with around 40 young people from primary and secondary schools, as well as from Sussex Downs College (who were our hosts) to witness a ‘Meet the Media’ programme. In the cramped porta-cabin, kids grilled a panel of local media personalities by asking them questions about their careers. The panel included a couple of rival breakfast show teams (from Sovereign Radio and Southern FM), as well as a young film-maker, and the Editor of the Eastbourne Herald Newspaper. It was also great that the panel included Chris Bailey,who participated in EYR in the early days and is now ia presenter on Bright FM.
The young presenters who ran the show did a fantastic job, especially since they had to contend with the cheesey jokes and relentless good moods that breakfast DJs seem to be born with.
It was inspiring to see enterprise brought to life through the medium of radio. Too often enterprise for school students is synonymous with business, but through EYR, young people weren’t making up pretend business ideas to pitch at ‘dragons’. Instead they were using a range of enterprise capabilities to deliver a real and creative output.
Tune into Eastbourne Youth Radio on 87.7 FM if you’re local, or listen online at: www.eyr.org.uk
November 24th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Hey!
I was a part of Eatbourne Youth Radio leading a team of students from Ratton School, three year 11’s including myself and two year 10’s. This is the second year that I have been involved and I really enjoyed the experience again and I think that I learnt some great leadership skills. I am glad that young people are given this oppotunity as it gives a vital and unforgetable experience. And it looks good on my record of acheivement for college!
I would strongly advise people who are interested to get involved. It is hard work but it is very rewarding at the end.