Thornbury Radio holds academy day giving aspiring presenters hands-on experience

Thornbury Radio held its inaugural Radio Presenters Academy Day on January 12 at Turnberries Community Centre, introducing 29 attendees to practical community broadcasting skills.

Thornbury Radio held its first Radio Presenters Academy Day on January 12 at Turnberries Community Centre. The one-day event introduced 29 local people to practical elements of community broadcasting. The academy was created to discover and develop new on-air and behind-the-scenes contributors as the not-for-profit station grows. Station presenters led the sessions and used equipment purchased with grant support. Event details: - The inaugural academy day took place on Sunday, January 12, at Turnberries Community Centre. - Twenty-nine attendees took part in a full day of practical sessions on community broadcasting. - The programme covered Thornbury Radio’s history, presenter styles, audience communication, show preparation, news-reading exercises, audio editing software, studio technology and crafting show links. - Sessions were guided by the station’s presenter team and made use of equipment bought with grants from Thornbury and District League of Friends and the Thornbury Round Table. - Feedback reported from participants was positive, with attendees praising the team’s enthusiasm and the hands-on format. Summary: The event introduced local residents to a range of radio skills and helped Thornbury Radio identify potential volunteers for both on-air and behind-the-scenes roles. The station said it hopes to repeat and expand the academy in future and to purchase further equipment to support subsequent sessions.