Category: Three Counties Radio
Date: 14.03.2005
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A pioneering programme acclaimed by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Chairman Michael Grade airs on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Three Counties Radio from tonight (Monday 21 March).
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This is thought to be the first time the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has handed over the control of an entire programme to a group of people who knew nothing about the workings of radio just a few months ago.
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Bangla Nation is a new programme for Bangladeshis living across the Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire areas on 630MW at 9.00pm every Monday.
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The idea for the magazine programme came about when staff at Three Counties Radio met with people at the Centre for Youth and Community Development (CYCD) in Luton.
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A group of nine CYCD volunteers, with no previous experience of working in radio, were given a crash course in broadcasting by Three Counties Radio's Louisa Compton.
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The resulting Bangla Nation, broadcast in English and Bengali, is a broad mix of news, views, politics, health information, music and film reviews as well as the latest news from Bangladesh.
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Louisa Compton, a senior broadcast journalist, has overseen the project.
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She says: "The entire group have been amazing. In just five months they've gone from having no idea how radio works, to being able to make their own programmes and coming up with really creative ideas.
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"Each week we've taught them a different aspect from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ values, to editing recorded material, to libel laws."
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She adds: "The programme is a real democracy, put together by a collective of members, ranging from late teens to mid-forties.
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"A smaller number of the group present the programme on a rotation basis and everyone plays a vital role - from reporting, to producing, to cultural reviews."
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Bangla Nation complements the range of Asian programming already broadcast each weekday on Three Counties Radio.
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Michael Grade says: "I've been to visit the team in Luton and am very excited by the project.
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"It's great to see the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ working closely with the community it serves and delivering a greater range of programmes as a result.
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