AN initiative to take the Scottish Parliament into local communities is being reported by a programme to be broadcast across the network of community radio stations – with the Parliament’s Presiding Officer helping to host it.
Tricia Marwick MSP is taking part in The Week in Holyrood, which is presented by broadcaster and trainer, Charles Fletcher.
They are in Hawick today for the inaugural Parliament Day which will see, among other things, a meeting taking place of the Scottish Parliament finance committee.
The Week was launched by Fletcher in January last year. He is chair of the Scottish Community Broadcasting Network and the programme will be transmitted nationwide on 28 community radio stations including Sunny Govan Radio (Glasgow), Castle FM (Edinburgh), Black Diamond FM (Midlothian), Cuillin FM (Skye); DCR (Dunoon), Bute FM (Rothesay);, 2LR (Gairloch); TD1 (Galashiels), and Shmu FM (Aberdeen).
Fletcher has worked for Sky News and also the BBC World Service. He has worked on setting up TV and radio stations in Eastern Europe and, closer to home, has recently been providing editorial training at the Herald & Times Group.
Fletcher told allmediascotand.com: “Networked programmes should never replace local programming in community radio, but there is a benefit to being part of a network and sharing content. The strength of community radio is local, with network added.”
