Woking Talking Newspaper - Various Roles

The work of The Woking Talking Newspaper Association involves delivering a FREE alternative method of communication so that the visually impaired are not denied access to local news and information that people with sight take for granted. 

WTN is run entirely by volunteers. It has a management committee of 7 Trustees and some twenty volunteers who produce the weekly audio edition of the Woking News and Mail that is distributed free of charge to our listeners in Post Free reusable wallets. 

OVERVIEW
Each Wednesday morning Woking News & Mail provides WTN with an advanced copy of the paper in PDF format. This is examined by the Editor who will allocate certain articles to readers for the week indicating to them which articles they are to read.

The readers record their allocated articles remotely and use the internet so each of the audio files recorded is made available for Producer 1.

Producer 1. balances the different sound levels and makes any necessary edits to the audio files before storing the processed files in DROPBOX.

Producer 2. copies the processed files onto a “master “USB memory stick.

The Administrator collects the wallets from a central location in Woking, completes associated admin and inserts labels ready for distribution, then delivers them to Producer 2.

Producer 2. copies the number of USB sticks required that week, packing one into each reusable postal wallet and despatching them via Royal Mail to the listeners. 
Then emails the EDITOR a report on the number of wallets distributed and the time of posting.

 

The volunteers can thus be divided into 4 groups as set out below: -

1.   EDITOR

The Editor will receive a pre-published copy of the Woking News and Mail on a Wednesday morning at approximately 9.30 am. The Editor combines the separate PDF pages into one file. Then marks up the combined file so that all articles in the paper may be allocated to the volunteer readers. The Editor deletes certain pages and stores this as a reduced PDF in DROPBOX. The Editor sends the marked-up paper in PDF format to the readers by email with the allocation of articles, together with any extra instructions. A copy of this allocation is also stored in DROPBOX. The Editor also maintains the rota for Readers and arranges substitutions if necessary.  Computer skills required to manipulate PDF files and add markings. Time commitment approximately 2 hours every 2/3 weeks. Appropriate training will be given.

2.   READERS

Readers are required to record their contributions remotely (usually from their home) and then to upload their recording via DROPBOX.

Readers will be allocated their articles on a Wednesday morning with the request that they submit their recordings by 11.00am on Thursday at the latest.

As well as having good reading voices, readers will now be required to have some IT knowledge, use email and have the means to record, via a smart phone or via a microphone, using a voice recording app. We suggest they install a free program called AUDACITY. Time commitment about 1½ hours once every 3 weeks.

Assistance and training can be provided remotely.

3.   ADMINISTRATORS

The Administrator needs to visit Moorcroft Centre for the Community in Westfield, Woking on a Thursday at about mid-day. On arrival collect the returned postal wallets, extract contents, mark up the returns in the REGISTER. When all have been logged in, to prepare the weeks outgoing wallets. The wallets & returned USB sticks must be taken to Producer 2, who will be in Woking or will come to Woking. The Administrator will have to have their own transport and be willing to visit Moorcroft and to spend approximately 1 hour there. Total commitment on a Thursday about 2 hours in all every other week.

4.   PRODUCERS

Producer 1. The producer must process the audio files submitted by the readers by using an audio editing software package on a laptop or personal computer. This requires the volunteer to have computer skills and access to the internet and an audio editing package or be prepared to download AUDACITY a free program. The commitment will be some 2/3 hours once every 2/3 weeks. Full training will be provided.

Producer 2. Producer 2 will access the processed audio files from Producer 1 in DROPBOX and with the aid of WTN’s own laptop and software prepare a “master” recording for the week.

This then must be copied onto multiple USB memory sticks by using WTN’s own digital copier. Producer 2 will receive the postal wallets from the Administrator. The memory sticks are then placed into each postal wallet (1 per wallet). The wallets are then posted by 7 pm on a Thursday. The volunteer will require some computer skills although training will be provided. The time commitment is some 3 hours every 2/3 Thursday

 

You can see from the above that our four main roles are: -

Editor

Administrator

Reader

Producer

What skills do I need?

We would welcome volunteers who might strengthen our available skills base. Particularly if they have knowledge of Marketing, using Social Media, or have had prior experience of being a Trustee for a charity.