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Community radio station host ‘Sound Women’ Brighton event

RadioReverb, Brighton’s local not-for-profit radio station, celebrated its recent move into the Brighton Open Market by hosting its very own Sound Women, Brighton event and dedicated radio show on Thursday, November 17.

Sound Women Kathy Caton, Sharon Duggal and Melita Dennett
‘Sound Women’ Kathy Caton, Sharon Duggal and Melita Dennett

RadioReverb is bucking the trend in broadcasting with three of their five weekday drive-time shows being hosted by women.

In fact, RadioReverb has female presenters presenting and producing 45% of their weekly shows, providing a platform through which equal opportunities within radio can be achieved. Nationally this figure is just 20%.

The coming together of both RadioReverb and Sound Women last night (Thursday, November 17), appeared complimentary as both not-for-profit organisations focus on the localisation of news and content to provide a fairer and more representative voice from women within the local community.

Since its conception in 2011, Sound Women has strived to raise the profile of women within the radio and audio industry. Working towards making women’s voices more influential and in turn making the audio industry more representative. Primarily focusing on creating more opportunities for women, enabling more exposure to networking opportunities and above all celebrating the achievements of women in audio.

Sadly this month, the Sound Women national organisation said that it was hanging up its headphones, but hoped that the “Sound Women legacy will continue to operate online and hope that the regional communities will also flourish” and continue the purpose which has been to nurture the relationship between women and the radio industry in a way that is mutually advantageous.

The Brighton event clearly demonstrated its impact with a diverse range of local women in audio attending to network and discuss their successes, and agreed on-air to continue the Sound Women legacy for Brighton.

Sound Woman and RadioReverb presenter, Kathy Caton, whose show Out in Brighton was dedicated to the event and joint link-up, said:  “I love radio for the fact that it is about what you’ve got to say and what you’ve got to think, rather than how you look or how you identify.”

She added: “Sound Women events help women in audio and radio meet each other – they help us connect. I’ve had amazing personal opportunities out of it and I’ve been able to help people in turn. I wish an organization like this had been knocking around at the beginning of my career. I think that there is a really active community who want to help each other in a non-competitive way and I love that.”

Eleanor Dobing
Eleanor Dobing

When asked about the future of Sound Women locally Eleanor Dobing – Director of RadioReverb added: “Well, perhaps an hour before the live radio show I would have wondered whether or not it would be happening, but now we have all agreed on-air that it should, so we’re good to go!”

RadioReverb’s final call to action on the show was to invite more women to present unique shows on RadioReverb. If you would like to submit a show idea email office@radioreverb.com with your pitch, and music genre.

Kathy Caton’s show Out In Brighton is broadcast live every Thursday from 5-6pm, repeated at 10pm, at 8am on Friday and 11-1200 on Saturdays.

You can also subscribe to the podcast at outinbrighton.podomatic.com, or find it in iTunes by searching for Out In Brighton.

You can hear RadioReverb on 97.2FM, on DAB or by logging on to www.radioreverb.com where you can also see the list of shows with female presenters.

 

 

England cricketer calls for end to Syrian conflict

“We must end this brutal conflict once and for all” – England cricketer, Moeen Ali.

Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali

Islamic Relief has released a hard-hitting video of England cricket legend, Moeen Ali, calling on politicians to “stop the killing, stop the power games and get serious about negotiating peace”.

To view the video, click here:

Following the dramatic escalation in violence in Aleppo over the last two days which saw a hospital and a blood bank hit, Islamic Relief is calling for an immediate end to the latest hostilities to allow the distribution of humanitarian aid to resume.

Hundreds have died in the past month of the five-year conflict that has already seen over 400,000 deaths, even before the current escalation in fighting.

The 275,000 civilians still trapped in Eastern Aleppo are facing human suffering on unprecedented levels as fighting and air strikes destroy what little is left of the city.

Imran Madden
Imran Madden

Islamic Relief’s UK Director, Imran Madden, said: “There is not a day to waste because Aleppo is under daily bombardment and every day costs more innocent lives. The dramatic escalation of violence being seen in Aleppo means continued suffering for those still trapped in the city. Civilians are not being afforded the protection by all sides that international law demands.

“Islamic Relief was providing aid and assistance in the area but our operations in Eastern Aleppo have been suspended because of the siege and recent bombardments. We need the fighting to stop so we can reach the 275,000 people trapped there who urgently need humanitarian aid. The only real solution which can see an end to this war is a political one and all politicians must get round the table now: not tomorrow or next week or next year”.

Islamic Relief are calling on their supporters to contact their MP today to urge our politicians to call for an emergency debate on Aleppo in the UK and at the United Nations to save lives.

Aleppo continues to face daily bombardment, despite the false promises of fragile cease fires. Over a quarter of a million people remain trapped inside East Aleppo with no access to humanitarian aid. Food and medical supplies are almost gone and more lives are lost every day the conflict continues.

Islamic Relief has over 270 staff and 300 volunteers supporting those affected by the Syrian crisis across Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq.

They have reached nearly 1 million people this year inside Syria and have assisted over 6.5 million Syrians in the region since the crisis began. Until the middle of the year, they were delivering aid inside Aleppo, and are poised to do so again as soon as they can gain safe access.

For more information about Islamic Relief, click here:

 

Cardiff LGBT History Month meets Doctor Who

Cardiff’s Pride Cymru to host an event celebrating Doctor Who’s importance to LGBT+ people as part of LGBT History Month 2017.

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Who’s Queer Now and its related website will show why many LGBT+ people love the universe of Doctor Who, including Torchwood and new young adult spinoff Class.

Event coordinator Lisa Power, said: “Class and Torchwood both feature LGBT relationships, but gay and transgender people have loved Who for much longer.

“These shows helped a lot of us find our own identities. And many LGBT people have worked on them, from the very first show onwards.”

The Museum of Wales will partner Pride Cymru in hosting the event, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

For now, you are encouraged to visit their Facebook page and website for Who’s Queer Now.

You can tell organisers why you love the world of Who and how it has helped you or make suggestions for what you’d like to see as part of the event.

There are already contributions from LGBT+ people and straight allies who have worked on the shows, including Torchwood’s iconic Captain John, James Marsters.

“I realised that I was in a show that was subverting the lie that LGBT people can’t be heroes” he says in a personal video message. “For that, I will always be in love with Torchwood”.

So, if you’re a gay Whovian, or just someone for whom the shows have had a special meaning in learning that being LGBT+ is okay, you’re invited to get involved and have your say alongside the stars.

For more information on FACEBOOK, click here:

For more online information, click here:

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