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Section 105 (B) and (C): Catering for tastes and interests/broadening choice<br />
iii) the provision of local material, if any<br />
Localness is what will make <strong>Rother</strong> <strong>FM</strong> distinctive. <strong>Rother</strong> <strong>FM</strong> will be a station that puts the<br />
people of <strong>Rother</strong>ham at the heart of everything it does. It’s not just the local news and<br />
information, although that is extremely important. The tone of the station will be <strong>Rother</strong>ham<br />
through-and-through: the chat, the informal interaction between the radio station and the<br />
listeners, the tone of voice, the way the presenters talk about the area, the particular sense of<br />
humour with which local observations, dedications, what’s on information, travel news and<br />
even the weather are delivered.<br />
Local management will be an important part of <strong>Rother</strong> <strong>FM</strong>’s success. Although all Lincs <strong>FM</strong><br />
Group stations have strong central support and policies, the local management teams are<br />
given substantial freedom to develop the station’s sound and activities to suit the local area.<br />
One way of achieving this is to recruit local staff wherever possible. The Lincs <strong>FM</strong> Group has<br />
a great record of training and developing local people, and many of the Group’s most highprofile<br />
presenters are in their first full-time job in radio after cutting their teeth at local colleges,<br />
hospital radio stations or mobile discos. Almost our entire sales team at each of our stations<br />
is made up of local people and they help contribute to programming ideas and travel news.<br />
We will try to find suitable <strong>Rother</strong>ham people for as many of the on-air positions as possible,<br />
and we are committed to training the radio stars of the future. We already have good<br />
relationships with colleges offering media courses in the region. As a result of <strong>Rother</strong> <strong>FM</strong>’s<br />
RSL and our ongoing activities within <strong>Rother</strong>ham, we have received – and continue to receive<br />
– job enquiries from local people.<br />
Another way of ensuring we have the right tone of voice is by talking to local people. <strong>Rother</strong><br />
<strong>FM</strong> will always have an on-going dialogue with its listeners. As described above, they will<br />
help us formulate our travel news and weather. While not broadcasting “phone-ins”, our<br />
presenters will have daily talking points: ideas that spark conversation and encourage<br />
listeners to call us with their anecdotes, which we will recount on air. Examples that have<br />
sparked great response on other Lincs <strong>FM</strong> stations include memories of school dinners, chat<br />
about what films and TV series have been filmed in the area and asking listeners to tell us<br />
what’s great about living in the area.<br />
Listeners will be able to participate in the life of the station in other ways, too. All phone, text<br />
and email comments will be dealt with at senior management level. <strong>Rother</strong> <strong>FM</strong>’s website will<br />
include ways for listeners to get involved, including surveys on topics of local interest and<br />
additional information on events, charity initiatives and local talking points.<br />
<strong>Rother</strong> <strong>FM</strong> will be proud of <strong>Rother</strong>ham, and do its best always to reflect what’s good about the<br />
area. Lincs <strong>FM</strong> Group stations in the region have already begun working with Yorkshire Air<br />
Ambulance and the Bluebell Hospice, supporting their fundraising activities. <strong>Rother</strong> <strong>FM</strong> was a<br />
sponsor for the Chamber Business Awards last year and hopes to continue that association.<br />
Dearne <strong>FM</strong> supported the Barnsley Teacher of the Year competition with great success and<br />
<strong>Rother</strong> <strong>FM</strong> will look for similar opportunities. We have also been approached by Cancer<br />
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