Preface
This report was submitted to the then chairman of the radio Ron Mason
Background
At this time in the stations history, staff contributing to the well being of the station i.e. fundraising and participating beyond turning up each week was left to a handful of individuals.
This was detrimental as things remained unchanged services and equipment we relied on, were becoming un-reliable with no funds to replace.
This report laid the foundation for the introduction of second choice on requests. Limit on the number of requests taken. The use of every available media to promote the radio service Proper equipment training for staff and adequate funding for equipment.
SATURDAY CREW REPORT AUGUST 82
From Dave Smith, Phil Chappell, Nick Westlake, PJ. Davidson-Smith.
The Saturday crew and the patient who has always been our prime objective to be able to entertain the listener on a Saturday evening, this has not been a very easy task ,firstly we have had to compete with good programs on the television and if there is something good on the television it's not much fun running a competition to an audience of one.
This report coincides with yet another series of programme changes. In June 1981 the 1st half hour comedy classic was broadcast and well received. The new look Saturday programming shows that this spot will in future be called the Saturday magazine and will give us the opportunity to broadcast more general interest programs:- The Motown sound currently running for 12weeks,comedy will return at a later date but on a more liberal basis.
W.D.2. Show
The setting up of this show last November got of to a shaky start but has now progressed to full participation by the kids and staff wherever possible a big thank you to nick Westlake for contributing to this and the incubator appeal fund with his market stall at the fete.
Requests
Policy for requests when I first joined the team was to say just a little crazy 52 requests for 3 hours straight programming and 30 of them between 8-9 result, 2mins of record and complaints. The maximum requests taken now is 30 from selective wards for 2hrs of requests( excluding the children's show), result no records cut short and no complaints. There is 2hrs of programme's by the crew and 2hrs of requests by the patients, plus 1 hour of children's entertainment, this is the overall policy for programme's on Saturdays.
Participation
This has ranged from articles for the magazine and selling raffle tickets to raise money for the new mixer. It's very difficult to lend any more time to other fund raising activities outside our broadcasting hours due to other commitments by all of us, the blue pot continues to take a trip round the wards every week with us and will do so until we can find someone to put some money in "ha" "ha".
Request Forms
A new style requests form is included and should be adopted to save paper and will function well if copied out right, NOTE. the additional information on the form which was lacking from previous ones.
Telephone
Advertising this facility would enhance our appeal to the listener the telephone quiz on a Saturday makes interesting listening, yet another way of getting patients to take an interest in the radio.
Maintenance
This has given us various problems over the last year and we understand the problems their has been, but get this right and the show comes out right. One of the most asked questions on ward rounds is have you got a set of headphones mine is broken or missing? in reply to this we are not able to effect any remedy but make a note in the studio, can it be possible to carry spare headsets in the studio for such events.
Summary
Whilst this is not a complete picture or a stab in the back at other people who do a marvellous job if we can strive to eliminate all our problems whatever they may be a happier environment on both sides of the mike will not just be a pipe dream. Ideas worth investigating. + current faults.
Telephone
The phone no's of radio Heatherwood marked on the mobile phone a switch to save all the plugging and unplugging on the phone line in the main studio.
Radio Tuners
The correct stations as listed channels 2 @ 3 are not tuned right for the daytime service, aerial fault possible cause.
Card Index
The artist index bulging at the seams song title index returns to a working system.
Advertising
The phone facility,up to date posters around the wards, display boards in reception areas of the hospital.
Studio Knowledge:-
The full working procedures of all the facilities available to the d jay i.e.:- the mixer, the phone link, the Revox, some people are unaware of how to operate these properly, recent comments In the studio log would bare this out + why does the Friday crew always have the gain on the phone link adjusted to maximum, don't know how to. do this properly.?
If d jays are unsure of the availability of records, if second choice is taken this avoids disappointment to the patient. It's not an excuse to have a go but just constructive ideas for the future. Enclosed with this report is our ideas for the request form + the posters advertising the Saturday crew. PS John Walters now has a copy of the requests form and is investigating.
Hope this doesn't start world war three.