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RadioReverb shortlisted for the UK’s largest Diversity Awards
RadioReverb, Brighton & Hove’s not for profit radio station, has been shortlisted for the ‘Community Organisation Award: Multi-Strand’ at the National Diversity Awards 2018.
A total of 24,584 people have been nominated this year, with an astonishing 124 nominees being recognised for their various achievements nationwide.
Community organisations and role models from across the UK will head to the breath-taking Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on 14th September to witness the country’s 2018 winners being crowned the best of British diversity.
A radio station with its ethos rooted in the Brighton community, RadioReverb aims to ensure the voices of local people are heard – especially if they are from social groups under-represented by the mainstream media.
RadioReverb produces a diverse range of speech and music programmes, including shows made by and for older people (At Home This Morning), people living with HIV (HIV Hour), people with learning disabilities (Carousel Radio) and the LGBTQ+ community (Out In Brighton). They also air Mental Health Matters, which explores issues surrounding mental health, and Sophie Cook Talks, a topical talk show presented by transgender broadcaster Sophie Cook.
Tracey Allen, RadioReverb director, said of the nomination: “We are tremendously proud that RadioReverb has been shortlisted for the Diversity Awards. RadioReverb takes diversity very seriously and are proud to give voices to marginalised communities, so to be recognised for this – and in such a competitive category – is truly an honour”.
Designed to highlight the country’s most inspirational and selfless people, the NDA’s continue to gain endorsements from high profile figures such as Stephen Fry, Sir Lenny Henry CBE and Graham Norton.
Radio 2 presenter and Scissor Sister favourite Ana Matronic will host this year’s ceremony alongside television presenter Brian Dowling. Reflecting on the forthcoming celebrations, Ana said; “I’m delighted to be hosting the 2018 National Diversity Awards in Liverpool for the second year in a row.
“Last year’s event was a true celebration of diversity across every area and nothing gives me greater pleasure than being able to be a part of this prestigious event! I can’t wait to meet all of the nominees and winners!”.
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RadioReverb launches ground breaking smart speaker skills
RadioReverb has embraced new technology by launching two brand new “skills” for Alexa-enabled devices and smart speakers.
Both of the skills – Amazon’s version of apps – that RadioReverb has developed are free to download and will work on Amazon Echo devices, the Alexa smartphone app on iOS and Android, Alexa-enabled Fire Tablets, the Alexa-enabled Fire TV and Fire TV stick..
The first new skill is a voice app called ‘RadioReverb’ which will enable users to listen live to Brighton’s not-for-profit radio station by just using their voice. Listeners only have to say “Alexa, open RadioReverb” to tune in to RadioReverb’s diverse mix of speech and music programmes.
The second skill is called ‘The Brighton Guide Flash Briefing’ and is a UK radio first. After installing the skill, users can get the latest ‘what’s-on guide’ for Brighton and Hove by asking “Alexa, what’s the news?”. In reply RadioReverb listeners will hear a brief rundown of their local listings at their own convenience. This content will be regularly updated and is the first time a UK radio station has created an events guide specifically for a smart speaker.
Both the ‘RadioReverb’ and ‘The Brighton Guide Flash Briefing’ skills are now live in the Alexa skills store. Also, plans are already underway to bring RadioReverb’s podcasts and listen again service to the Alexa skills store, so their award-winning programmes can be enjoyed on-demand. Recently RadioReverb’s ‘Carousel Radio’ won a Gold British Podcast Award, and similarly prestigious awards have also been presented to Growing Wild and Fermentation.
Anthony Martin, Audio & Digital Manager at RadioReverb, said: “These skills that we’ve launched on the Amazon Echo are an example of RadioReverb’s innovative attitude towards delivering our content in an increasingly digital world.
“In developing ‘The Brighton Guide Flash Briefing’ for the Amazon skills store, we wanted to use the latest technology to give our audience local listings information in new and exciting ways. As a local radio station based in the heart of the community that is forefront in our minds.”
Tracey Allen, director of RadioReverb, said “Smart speakers are a compelling and increasingly important way of delivering audio content to radio listeners and RadioReverb are proud to be moving with the times. Smart speaker ownership is becoming ever more popular and we want our audience to be able to engage with RadioReverb using the latest possible technology.”