A lot of talking to help spread the news
Ian Johnston looks back over the development of the
Orkney Talking Newspaper as the volunteers
prepare to record their 1,000th edition . . .
(From The Orcadian dated November 7, 2002)

James Oliver Alexander reads an article from last week’s The Orcadian for the 999th edition of the Orkney Talking Newspaper, while to his right, Duncan McNair records it on to cassette. (www.orkneyphotographic.co.uk)

Today, Thursday, will be a special day for many visually impaired people throughout Orkney and for some others further afield.

For today is the publishing date of The Orcadian which will become the 1,000th edition to be recorded on to cassettes by local charity Orkney Talking Newspaper.

The voluntary organisation has been running for nearly 20 years, after it was started in September, 1983 to give visually impaired locals the opportunity to keep up to date with the news in Orkney.

The organisation employs 51 volunteers who spend a portion of their free time working in many different aspects of the service, ensuring that visually impaired people can keep up with what is going on in the county 52 weeks a year.

The organisation has also been recognised by other talking newspaper organisations throughout the UK since it started in 1983, winning various awards over the years.

In 1993 Orkney Talking Newspaper scooped first place in the Scottish Talking Newspaper Annual Competition, and first place in the UK National competition the next year, before finishing second in the Scottish competition in 1998.

The talking newspaper costs around £6,000 per year to run and is financed through regular donations from Orkney Islands Council and Flotta oil terminal operators Talisman, as well as frequent donations from local companies and businesses and even from some of the volunteers themselves.

The organisation also regularly receives donations from many local businesses and individuals, who are all keen to see the talking newspaper last as long as possible.

The organisation have only missed out one issue because of a technical fault.

May Shearer, who is honorary secretary of Orkney Talking Newspaper, said that the service provides and invaluable service to visually impaired people in Orkney and beyond.

“It’s gives people who cannot pick up and read the paper a chance to know what is going on in Orkney. The radio gives us this, but you can’t sit and rewind it if you missed anything,” she said.

Miss Shearer, who herself is blind, added that she also volunteers for the talking newspaper.

“It’s more of a hobby for me than anything else,” she explained.

Willie Marwick, a visually impaired man from Dundas Crescent in Kirkwall, has been receiving cassettes of The Orcadian from the talking newspaper for almost 15 years

Mr Marwick said that, thanks to the service of Orkney Talking Newspaper, he is able to stay in touch with news in the county.

“The tapes keep me up to date with the news as it were. They are a very dedicated group and they provide an excellent service for 52 weeks of the year. It’s good to see them reach 1,000 as well,” he said.

Shona Wylie, the organisation’s co-ordinator and only paid member, explained the process of how the newspaper is recorded on to cassettes each week.

Firstly, The Orcadian is divided in to sections by volunteers who decide what articles will be recorded on to the cassettes. All of the front page is included, as are Sheriff Court and the majority of the Auction Mart reports.

These articles are then cut out and passed on to the readers, who record the articles on to cassettes, before the more technically minded volunteers check that the recording went smoothly with no errors.

These cassettes are then addressed and posted out to visually impaired people in Orkney, and various exiled Orcadians throughout the rest of the UK and even one in Canada.

Patsy Bain records an edition of The Orcadian on to cassette in September 1997.

The talking newspaper distributes to a listening audience of between 130 and 140 people, who receive their audio cassette of The Orcadian free each week.

Chairman of the Orkney Talking Newspaper, Mrs Sheila Spence from Harray, explained that the volunteers are supplied their hours on a rota, and work on Friday nights and Saturday mornings, around every three or four weeks at a time.

“The people who record on to the tapes don’t get paid a penny. They are very dedicated, some of them have been doing it since we started in 1983,” she said.

Mrs Spence explained how the talking newspaper started out recording The Orcadian on to tapes in the attic above Orkney Tourist Board in Broad Street, Kirkwall, in 1983.

However, they were ordered to move out of the premises a couple of years later because of a health and safety factor, as there was no fire escape in that part of the building.

They currently record the articles at a recording studio in Scott’s House at Hatston Industrial Estate in Kirkwall.

Mrs Spence added that they are hoping to secure the booking of a room in the Orkney Library in Kirkwall, in order to get the peace and quiet needed to record The Orcadian on to cassettes.

“Hatston has nice recording facilities, but you get the noise of workmen hammering away and that sometimes comes across on to the tapes,” Mrs Spence explained.

Only one member of the voluntary organisation is paid for their involvement – part-time co-ordinator Miss Shona Wylie, who has been in the role since March this year.

Miss Wylie said that she was thoroughly looking forward to being a part of the milestone of the 1,000th edition.

“It’s hard to think that it’s reached 1,000 now. But it has been running for nearly 20 years. Everyone involved with the talking newspaper is looking forward to the occasion,” she said.

James Oliver Alexander has been working with the Talking Newspaper for 11 years, reading articles from The Orcadian on to cassettes.

“I really enjoy doing it. I’ve been reading for 11 years now, and am about to finish off the 999th issue,” he said.

Meanwhile, Duncan McNair, who works on the technical side of the organisation, makes sure that the material is recorded on to the cassettes correctly, and just received a certificate commemorating his ten years service with the Talking Newspaper last month.

“It’s something I enjoy doing a lot and I enjoy working on the more technical side. Thankfully, I won’t be working on the 1,000th edition. I wouldn’t want to make a mistake on it,” he said.

The talking newspaper held a public demonstration in the Town Hall in Kirkwall on Saturday from 10am until 4pm, showing how they record The Orcadian on to cassettes.

During the demonstration, members of the public were given the chance to see a few of the volunteers at work, recording copies of last week’s The Orcadian.

Orkney Talking Newspaper volunteers receive their ten-year service certificates to mark the 500th edition of the talking newspaper in 1993. Pictured back row from left: Carolyn Chalmers (co-ordinator), Jackie Tait (OIC convener), Harley Spence, Ian MacDonald, Jean Chrichton, Ken Doughty, Pat Doughty, Mimes Manson, Kathleen Ireland, Mhairi Trickett (OIC social work chairman). Front row from left: Ola Tait, Jean Marwick, May Shearer, Sheila Spence, and Isa Robertson.