Billings
Billings are brief descriptions of programmes and help promote our schedule and entice listeners to tune in. We would like to receive programme descriptions via Proteus. If you are not already registered with Proteus, please contact radioscotland.schedules@bbc.co.uk.
Sometimes it's difficult for daily/weekly strands to confirm programme information several weeks in advance so generic billings can be submitted instead (these should be refreshed periodically).
radioscotland.schedules@bbc.co.uk will inform you of when you need to submit your billing to Proteus by. Late billings or any amendments/updates submitted after the deadline date will miss some print deadlines (e.g. Radio Times) but capture others (e.g. EPG listings and the Radio Scotland website) Please note all independents must contact radioscotland.schedules@bbc.co.uk to approve their billing, or it will not be made public.
If you need to clarify anything please contact radioscotland.schedules@bbc.co.uk
Programme material for trails
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Scotland operates a vigorous policy of on-air promotion and is managed by the Promotions Producer. It is vital that the quality, style and format of programme trailing is consistent with the current Promotions Department policy.
If your programme has been selected as a priority, the Promotions Producer will contact you to discuss precise requirements.
The first programme of a new series will usually be a promotion priority and will receive promotion from around a week before transmission.
It is important that trail material reaches us in good time. Therefore, you should make contact at least two weeks before transmission to discuss the extent of your involvement in trail production.
We may opt to produce a generic trail package to survive a series of programmes.
Clips should be made available to the Promotions Producer. On certain occasions it may also be necessary to have access to your presenter.
Publicity Material
A couple of short paragraphs should be emailed to pressoffice-scotland@bbc.co.uk at least three weeks in advance of the transmission date. This information should include what the programme is about, who the presenter is, plus any other relevant info (anniversaries etc).
You should also make the Press Office aware of any support material that may be useful, e.g. pictures (ideally in reasonably high quality jpeg or similar), audio clips or contributors who would be willing to be interviewed or write first person pieces themselves. Highlight any amusing stories which might interest the Diaries and advise the Press Officer when an electronic clip /cd will be available. Again, supplying this information as early as possible to the Press Officers is important as it can lead to increased promotional opportunities.
Good newslines however, can be handled close to transmission date. Newslines are usually dealt with in two ways: personal stories, revelations etc., may be of interest to both tabloids and broadsheets and are often given to news agencies (in consultation with producers); this information plus results of specially-commissioned surveys (Running on Empty, Burns the Brand) or Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ social initiatives (Voices) may also interest the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ news outlets.
Radio features often spawn good press features and we always try to get a credit for the programme. The Press Office is generally happy if presenters or producers can secure self-written pieces or use contacts but PRIOR NOTIFICATION TO PRESS OFFICE is essential if conflict/frustration is to be avoided.
If a general interview or publicity feature is secured, you should try to flag up any Radio Scotland work. Sometimes it is better for one large feature to appear in one paper, sometimes better to use news pages. Giving a news story to one newspaper contact is often a recipe for difficulty further down the line.
On occasions, journalists may request to speak directly to a producer or presenter. Please liaise with the Press Office in advance before doing so. The Press Office will assess if this is possible, although prior warning should be given to them if a producer/presenter is not prepared to talk to Press.
Producers/presenters with any issues which they fear may come out in the press are encouraged to have an early word with a Press Officer or the Press Office Manager.
An image is required for each broadcast. If you have an accompanying image to support the broadcast please email it to Radio Scotland-Online If you do not have an image or wish to discuss how to illustrate a programme visually, please contact the Radio Scotland Online team at the same address.