Training and Volunteering

Seamus, Pat, Jamie, Pauline, Nicola, Caroline with facilitator Pat Byrne on Day 1 of the Community Radio course.

Dundalk FM has over 90 volunteers and provides programming that reflects the experiences of people living in Dundalk and surrounding area. training opportunities for people in the area. access to the local airwaves so that Community Groups can promote their services through Community Notices, Interviews, broadcasting from local events and their own self produced radio programmes. We have ongoing vacancies for new volunteers who wish to learn how to become a community radio presenter. We would like to invite you to our next Information Session. This will take place in the Community Office next door to the station on Monday 20th January 2025 from 7.00 p.m. until 8.30 p.m. The Community Office is based in Partnership Court and is accessible via the car park, close to the entrance on the Ramparts. We also have a slide show on our website which you can access here Information Session. If you would like to find out more about the station and how you can join our team of community radio broadcasters – we would be delighted to meet you this coming Monday the January 20th at 7.. We are now taking bookings for our next Radio Training Courses which will run from 7pm to 9pm on three Monday evenings – 10th, 17th and 24th February. The fee is €95.00 If you would have questions about joining our team of community radio broadcasters or would to register for the training course, please email us info@dundalkfm.ie.  

Our September class started on Monday the 5th and will run for the next two weeks. Dan Pope came in to chat with our new presenters about how he joined the station and his weekly programme, Under the Covers –  Sundays at 3.00 pm. Our class members are Róisín Ward Morrow, Bruno Vilares, Andy and Louise McCartney, Bobby McCormack, Development Perspectives, Christopher Praveen, Pamela Carragher, Eugene O Hanlon, Dean Wright, Luka Stopic, Gavin Hanlon, Michael Murray, John Joe Jacobs, Andrius Rikauskis and Ciara Byrne. Marissa Lucchesi explained the features of a Magazine Show and introduced the radio vocabulary that we use daily at the station such intros, theme music, links, stings and station idents. Alan Byrne, Station Manager explained the community development ethos of Dundalk FM where individuals and community groups can become more acquainted with their area by meeting people through the station, attending outside broadcasts and chatting to people on air. He encouraged all the presenters to fill in a Programme Proposal and record a Demo and that he would help them to have a programme in the schedule by the end of October. As members, they will be welcome to join committees and stand as a representative of over 70 colleagues and perform the duties of a Director. Dundalk FM is run by Dundalk Media Centre CLG which was set up as a not-for-profit community media resource in February 2002. It is one of the 21 Community Radio Stations in Ireland and is affiliated to Craol the Community Radio Ireland, to Amarc Europe and adheres to the Amarc Charter as its code of ethics.  When Dundalk FM hosted the Craol National Community Radio Day on June 18th 2021, President Michael D Higgins who has a reputation for advocating the social benefits of community radio commented ‘Community radio helps to strengthen ties and build awareness of common values, and challenges and a discussion of possible solutions to issues within our localities. Community radio is a vital part of the shared public space for people to meet and collaborate. It is a public good’. During the class, our new presenters were tasked with recording a Voice Over for a Community Notice in the Production Studio with our Evening Duty Manager, Tony Duffy. In advance of the second week, they will practice recording an audio exercise on their phone and have the opportunity to come into Main Studio to learn how to work the Sound Desks. To commence their community Radio Broadcasting career, our presenters have the prospect of researching and pre-recording the following 50-minute programmes. • Alphabeats – you will be given a letter of the alphabet and asked to create a show with bands or musicians or songs starting with that letter.     • 100 Years of Music– choose any year between 1921 and 2021.       • Spotlight – a show based on your selection of any musician or band.       The second evening of the three-week course will focus on technical skills such as working the Sound Desk, recording to a digital recorder, editing a promo for a show, researching, compiling a running order and scripting links for a 25-minute programme. Equipment Q & A. 1. What equipment do you need in a recording studio? 2. What audio editing software is available? 3. What are the correct recording levels? 4. What are clipping and distortion? 5. How do you use a Voice Recorder? 6. How do you send a show to the station? 7. How to make a phone call and put it through the desk? 8. How do we link back to the studio when we are doing an Outside Broadcast? A Spotlight programme featuring Irish Music recorded during the first class will be aired on Sunday 11th September at 4.00 pm. There will be two courses in 2023 – February and September. If you would like to find out more please email info@dundalkfm.ie for details.

      John Englishby, presenter of the Monday Drive Time Show, Themed Tunes (4th Saturday at 2 pm) and the Odds and Sods Show (1st Saturday at 11 pm) demonstrates the Axia Digital Sound Desks to our new volunteer presenters – Christopher Praveen, Conor D’Arcy, Dalia Aguero, Ayomide Adesiyan, Dean Lawlor, Pamela Carragher, Eugene O’Hanlon and Kavneet Kainth. Alan Byrne, Station Manager welcomed the new volunteers and explained that Dundalk FM is a Community Radio station – a social enterprise owned and run by local community groups and volunteers. Our new volunteers will take part in a Radio Course in September and will learn how to format a programme, record and edit interviews using audio software and how to work the faders on the sound desk, but before then they will have the opportunity to record one of our Spotlight, 100 Years of Music or Alphabeats shows. The next New Volunteer Evening will be held in the Community Offices, Partnership Court, on 25th August at 7.00 pm. All welcome!

Independent Radio Dundalk is a new FREE community media project that we are running between September and December 2021 and it is supported by the Communities Integration Fund. If you would like to join us email info@dundalkfm.ie or call 042 93 95 100 and ask to reserve your place. You will have the choice to do the class online or come into our training room. We will introduce you to radio work such as compiling running orders and scripting links. We will show you how to work the sound desk, use a digital recorder and how to edit audio recordings. This introductory class runs for three sessions each lasting an hour and a half. Mornings from 10.00 to 11.30 Afternoons 3.00 – 4.30 or Evenings 7.00 – 8.30 You will be in a small group of four people. Each of the groups will have their programmes broadcast on the Independent Radio Dundalk Series that will begin on Sunday afternoons starting in September and will be available on the station’s Mixcloud Listen Again Service. This is a wonderful way to get an introduction to our town’s vibrant Community Radio Service, make new friends and join our team of over 70 volunteer broadcasters. So if you would like to meet some new people and have some fun call 93 95 100 or email info@dundalkfm.ie today to book a place. To see how the project is progressing check in on the webpage below. Independent Radio Dundalk Programme Report AROUND THE TOWN            

SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY – Dundalk FM Last updated: 11th March 2021 Introduction The Social Media Policy document provides guidance and direction to Staff, Presenters and Volunteers when utilising all types of social media. Misuse or abuse of social and digital media can cause significant injury to third parties and can also impact negatively on the reputation of Dundalk FM. The Station is potentially vicariously liable for injury caused by misuse or abuse of social and digital media channels by anyone associated with Dundalk FM. Consequently the station takes any misuse or abuse of social and digital media very seriously. Like all Staff/Volunteer policies, it is the responsibility of the Manager to address any issues that arise in relation to breach of these policies and regulations. There is also a significant personal responsibility placed on all Staff and Volunteers at the station. Electronic Communications Policy Confidential information regarding company business practices and procedures or personal information about any suppliers, advertising clients or employees must not be posted or discussed on Internet social networking websites, Internet video hosting/sharing websites, Internet discussion forums, message boards or Internet chat rooms. The company reserves the right to take such action as it deems appropriate against users who breach the conditions of these policies or Data Protection regulations. Employees who breach these policies may be denied access to the Station’s information technology resources, and may be subject to disciplinary action, including suspension and dismissal as provided for in the disciplinary procedure. Volunteers who breach policy may have their membership rescinded. Code of Standards and Behavior There is an implied term of mutual trust and confidence between employer and employee in all employment contracts. A very negative, defamatory or damaging posting or communication by an employee may entitle Dundalk Media Centre CLG T/A Dundalk FM to proceed with the Disciplinary Process, including investigation, and discipline up to dismissal if warranted. If defamatory material is posted on a social networking site, defamation claims may arise against the employee. Employees must not improperly disclose, during or following termination of employment, information gained in the course of their work. Staff & volunteers who have access to Dundalk FM social media to post on behalf of the station are entrusted so for the purpose of enhancing the service the station provides to users. Anyone posting as Dundalk FM is asked to stop and consider how the post may impact the station. Posts that may make any negative implications towards the station or another organisation/ persons or indeed posts reflecting personal moral/religious/political beliefs etc will be removed and the perpetrator may face disciplinary procedures. If you choose to identify yourself as an employee of Dundalk Media Centre CLG (T/A Dundalk FM) or a Dundalk FM broadcaster on social media profiles including your own personal profiles or in your commentary on personal topics within social media sites, it is important to use common sense and be aware of the nature of your comments and their possible consequences. It is important that all our employees and volunteers are aware of the implications of engaging in forms of social media and online conversations that reference the company or your association with the Station. Privacy, Data Protection requirements, defamation law and basic duty of care all still apply in comments that are made while off-duty and online. If an employee or volunteer comments online in a personal capacity while identified as an employee or volunteer of DMC, these comments can be attributed or perceived as the official position of the company. Volunteers & Staff – Remember, when using Personal social media: Be respectful of all individuals, races, religions and cultures; how you conduct yourself in the online social media space not only reflects on you but could also reflect on Dundalk FM as you are associated with the station in the public eye. Think before you post. Anything you post that is inaccurate, unfair, or breaking privacy standards will ultimately be your responsibility. You may come across negative posts about Dundalk FM, but should avoid responding yourself. The post in question should be forwarded to the Station Manager who is authorised to respond (if appropriate) to comments on behalf of Dundalk FM. Be conscious when mixing your radio and personal lives. Online, your personal and radio profiles are likely to intersect. The Station respects the privacy of all but you must remember that our listeners, colleagues and the wider Community may have access to the online content you post. Keep this in mind when publishing information online that can be seen by more than friends and family, and know that information originally intended just for friends and family can be forwarded on very easily. Know that the Internet is permanent. Once information is published online, it is essentially part of a permanent record, even if you “remove/delete” it later or attempt to make it anonymous. Protecting Dundalk FM Staff/Volunteers from online abuse Given the nature of and the high levels of participation in social media sites like Facebook in Ireland, Staff/Volunteers/Broadcasters may from time to time become the victim of abuse or defamation by members of the public through comments made and published on the Internet or on social networks. Where this occurs, the Station Manager will work to support you in every way possible. Responsibility for responding to staff or volunteer concerns about and co-ordinating the response to abusive online comments rests with the Manager as is does with all Staff/Volunteer health safety and welfare issues. Where Staff/Volunteers are notified of or are concerned about an abusive or defamatory post, profile, comment or page relating to the radio, this should be reported immediately to the Manager. The Manager should arrange for the post to be reviewed, and where possible or appropriate, the post should be reported as abuse with the relevant site’s existing reporting process. A screenshot should be recorded of the comment.

  Assisting with the May 9th 2019 Information evening were Jason Kelly – Sports Academy Desk Operator and Drive Time DJ and John Hennessy – Dundalk Lion’s Club At Your Service show which airs on Thursdays at 8pm and repeated in Sundays at 7pm. The next Information Evening will be on July 11th at 7pm. All are welcome.