| ABOUT
GTFM
GTFM was established in 1999 by the Glyntaff Tenants
& Residents Association in Pontypridd as a community project working
with local radio enthusiasts. GTFM broadcast in 1999 & 2000 for a
month at a time using a Restricted Broadcast Licence (RSL) issued by the
Radio Authority. The station has been hugely successful in attracting
a large following of loyal listeners. GTFM has the support of local politicians
and community groups and celebrities such as Cerys Matthews, Iris Williams
& Bonnie Tyler have taken part.
The University of Glamorgan has a strong track record in running Media
courses but ventured into the world of "live" Radio in 1999
and 2001, involving students, local school pupils and other young people
in its broadcasts. The station "Fusion" won two BBC Radio 1 awards
for excellence in student radio.
ACCESS RADIO
In 2001 GTFM joined forces with the University of Glamorgan
and was chosen as one of 15 groups around the UK (and the only one in
Wales) to take part in an initial year long Government pilot project,
organised via the Radio Authority, to see if it is feasible to set up
Access Radio on a permanent basis. The pilot proved successful and was
extended until December 2003.
ACCESS RADIO IS RE-NAMED COMMUNITY RADIO
Following a full evaluation of the Access Radio experiment and new broadcasting
legislation, new media regulator Ofcom began licensing Community Radio
across the UK and GTFM became the first such station in Wales! The essential
differences between Community Radio and other types of radio are:-
· It is run on a not for profit basis
· It champions volunteering in the community (many of its presenters
and off-air helpers are volunteers who receive training in essential skills)
· Individuals and community groups are actively encouraged to take
a role in the station to ensure it succeeds in its objective to stimulate
community development and capacity building.
Alongside these serious intentions however, GTFM is
fun to listen to and our programme schedule includes many types of music,
local news and features on topical issues in order to provide the broadest
possible mix of information and entertainment.
HOW GTFM IS RUN
GTFM’s affairs are regulated by a committee, the
voluntary members of which have extensive and complimentary experience
in management, media and community development. The station is run on
a day-to-day basis by a Station Manager and a small team of full-time
support staff, including a Volunteer Co-ordinator, a Programme Co-ordinator,
a Broadcast Journalist and an Administrator/Book Keeper.
Additionally, the University of Glamorgan employs a Community Radio Tutor
who co-ordinates our regular Radio Training courses as well as some of
our evening broadcasts which are produced at the University’s own
studios. These include the 'Cardiff City Phone-I' (during the football
season) and 'Showcase Wales' which features live performances by local
bands.
VITAL VOLUNTEERS
Our volunteer broadcasters present the majority of our
regular daytime programmes and all of our specialist interest music programmes
which are broadcast in the evening and at weekends. Volunteers are also
involved in producing, researching and administration too – and
previous GTFM volunteers have gone on to have successful careers in the
BBC and commercial radio.
LOYAL LISTENERS
GTFM has a loyal audience that seems to grow by the
day. An audience survey conducted a couple of years ago estimated our
weekly listenership to be 27% of local residents which is very encouraging
as it would mean we’d have the second largest audience in the area
with only Cardiff-based Red Dragon FM a little ahead of us.
So although we recognise Community Radio is more about
making a positive contribution to local life than chasing ratings, we
also reason that if lots of people enjoy what we do and - above all -
find it stimulating and useful, we can make a bigger difference than if
they don’t.
That is why we try to match audience expectations by
striving to maintain a 'professional' standard at all times.
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