When it comes to identifying the station, consistency is key. It helps the individual parts of Cambridge Radio come together under one roof. This guide offers best practice as to what to say and when.
Name and Location
- We should ID the name of the station regularly. This will depend on the style of the show, but generally every 20 minutes is a minimum. This can be as simple as “Cambridge Radio” as you move from one item to the next.
- Generally, there’s little need for a presenter to say where we are on the dial. The listener has already found us.
But should we feel the need and particularly in print we say “On Digital Radio, Online and Smart Speaker” - Avoid other versions. There’s also no need to say FM. (Radio 5 Live have spent 25 years without mentioning they’re still on medium wave!)
- When we rebranded to Cambridge Radio, we recognised that fewer people are listening to FM, and instead are choosing Digital Radio and Podcasts. Continuing to reference FM makes us sound old fashioned (There are no plans to switch off 105FM).
- Our Strapline is “Radio and Podcasts for Cambridge and South Cambs” – that’s actually a bit of a mouthful. So let’s save that one for Pete and Gina when they introduce the news. Just use the shorter “Cambridge and South Cambs”
- Avoid phrases like “the local area” or “surrounding area.
When to use jingles
- We use sung jingles out of features, news headlines, etc.
- We use dry jingles between songs.
- IDs start the hour, Sweeps are during the show. [A Sweep is designed as a transition between songs or segments]
- We Play a Variety of idents – not just ones with your name! You can see a different selection of jingles/idents by changing from your U screen to the shared S screens.
Getting the Name Right
- It’s Cambridge Breakfast (not the Breakfast Show)
- It’s Home (not Drive or Drivetime)
- News is from Sky News and Cambridge Radio News [We can use stories from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, but if a national/international news story breaks we quote Sky, not the BBC, as our official (and licensed) news provider through IRN.
On Demand and Podcasts
- Remind listeners about the On Demand section on our website at Cambridge.Radio. All shows are available “shortly after broadcast.
- For streaming we recommend Radioplayer – we have access as part of our subscription to the Community Media Association. Here we find Podcasts from shows including Flavour, From the Terraces and Cambs Politics.
- Mentioning other platforms – including TuneIn and Mixcloud – is confusing to the listener.
Say Thank you
- Unless you’re running a pre-record that’s repeated later in the week, thank the previous person for their show… and of course preview the show that’s coming next.
Content
- We’re a local station, not a non stop music station or Anytown FM. National Cornish Pastie day is great, but not as local as bringing in a local guest or talking about issues that matter to the community. (Or find someone in Cambridge who makes Pasties.)
- Absolutely no more than 3 tracks back to back (2 is preferred, particularly in Daytime). And include a station ident between at least one of those tracks.
- Don’t give long talks, ie spending an hour discussing the best way to make Yorkshire Puddings or A Good Night’s sleep. Get a guest in to tell you, even if you know the answer yourself!
- What’s Ons are best scattered through a show. As listeners may only be with you for 20 minutes, why let all the goodies out at once?
Contacting the Station
- We all yearn for feedback, but most listeners are happy to let you entertain and inform them while they get on with life.
- Listeners will respond to something that engages them.
- Avoid ‘tell me what you’re up to’
- Don’t overdo the text/WhatsApp number. You’ll sound desperate.
What’s Coming Up
- Reading out the schedule isn’t a feature. Keep to one or two shows (no more than 3) concentrating on those who have new information rather than the generic read.
- Trail ahead. Don’t just play an ad break out of nowhere or go blind into travel or headlines. Say what artists you’re going to play or tease your audience with a question about the track.
- We’re here to be a friendly voice, other stations are the robots
Making Sure you Sound Good
- Any home recordings must be of Broadcast Quality