At various conferences and events I attend I have posted a series of 'live blog' style Tweets/Posts on X.
Given that X posts are no longer publicly available without an account, and many people prefer to avoid the platform, I have reproduced verbatim below my tweets from the UK Community Radio Network Conference & 2023 Community Radio Awards held on 4th November 2023 in Newcastle.

I have left in errors from the original post, and there will be some formatting errors due to the manual process of converting the content, further edits will be made in the future to fix these formatting errors and to embed the couple of missing video clips (once I work out a simple way of doing this.)

The main purpose of this is to 'archive' the content in an hopefully more secure and accessible location, thus I have retrospectively set the published date of this post to the original event date to aid search.
31st December 2025

Nov 04 23 · 1 tweets

Another Saturday another early road trip for the UK Community Radio Network Conference and Community Radio Awards in Newcastle, but playing eye spy the house in the middle of the motorway. #UKCRNconnect

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Nov 04 23 · 2 tweets

Build your own goody bag and a few exhibitors to start the day.

#UKCRNConnect

Morning sessions include several sessions on AI which I’m looking forward to and more this afternoon on “the future of local radio”. #UKCRNConnect

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Nov 04 23 · 1 tweets

Martin Steers gives update on @UK Community Radio Network work over past year. Including lobbying Ofcom and DCMS on increasing value of volunteer time on Community Radio annual returns.

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Nov 04 23 · 1 tweets

First talk on Newcastle’s Pride Radio, who inform, entertain and support the LGBTQ community through the medium of radio and Kylie Minogue.

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Nov 04 23 · 1 tweets

Stefan De Groot, software developer and radio nerd talks RadioNewsAI

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Nov 04 23 · 2 tweets

Ask Chat GPT to write the news and you get a work of fiction, but ask it to rewrite a web article and make a news report.

When Chat GPT was asked to write a news bulletin.

Question “Will AI replace presenters?” Stefan thinks AI voices doesn’t have the personality and are currently best suited to straight reads.   #ukcrnconnect

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Nov 04 23 · 1 tweets

Talk on National Lottery funding highlights how Community Radio have often struggled to access lottery funds and recommend focusing on community benefits over broadcasting.

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Nov 04 23 · 1 tweets

Next segment at the @UK Community Radio Network conference has sessions on SSDAB and a couple of station talks, starting with Spice FM I Newcastle.

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Nov 04 23 · 2 tweets

SSDAB not a pot of gold… What could possibly go wrong….

Update on @UK Community Radio Network survey and report on SSDAB operators yet again brings up lack of station take up of services making finances tricky.

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Nov 04 23 · 1 tweets

David Nicholson from Radio Tyneside talks about his hospital and community radio service.

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Nov 04 23 · 4 tweets

Post lunch sessions next sessions includes Future of local radio, I predict many saying it’s Community Radio not BBC Local.

Change from programme list Sarah from BBC not on the panel.

Dave Nicholson “new BBC Local shared afternoon flat as a pancake” @Radio Tyneside 93.6 FM focus on needs of audience @Radio Tyneside 93.6 FM focus on local interviews / events guides no longer featured elsewhere.

Peter from Pride “to our listeners local is a frightening word” connotations of jumble sale announcements. Suggests they look at being “personal” to their listeners. #ukcrnconnect

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Nov 04 23 · 1 tweets

Jack Oddie on relationship with voice artists. He thinks that directed session is best “send email and get the vos safety read”. Don’t settle for that.

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Nov 04 23 · 2 tweets

Richard Berry from Spark Sunderland Community and Student Radio, talks of challenge and benefits of being linked to a university. Students cycle every 3/4 years. #ukcrnconnect

Says it’s good that Uni pays the bills, bad that they dictate access to studios and facilities. (No remote broadcast due to cyber risk)

#UKCRNConnect

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Nov 04 23 · 2 tweets

ASA talking about their campaign to raise awareness of advertising regulation and positive increase in trust in advertising.

Highlighting difference in regulation on digital including #podcasting

ASA working on research on disclosure of commercial relationships in online audio content.

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Nov 04 23 · 1 tweets

Great session on radio copywriting

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Nov 04 23 · 2 tweets

UKCRN plans for years ahead.

A supporters scheme for stations to join and what could be a really useful – a listen number survey system for Community and Small stations.

The listener number system is backed by academics / independent interviewers and includes field surveys. Martin Steers “back of a fag packet” estimates a cost of a couple of grand every couple of years per station.

#ukcrnconnect

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Nov 04 23 · 1 tweets

We are having predrinks in a student union bar at @Northumbria Students’ Union at the No thumbria Events Centre before the start of this evenings community radio awards.

Looking forward to a good night.
#CRAs23

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Nov 04 23 · 1 tweets

Moving into the main venue now for the most important part of proceedings…dinner before the awards.
#CRAs23

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Nov 04 23 · 1 tweets

The excitement or the nervousness of attendees is building at the Community Radio Awards 2023.
#CRAs23

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Was a privilege to pick up this award tonight on behalf of the late Dave McGealy. Hopefully mine and @Ian Wolstenholme tributes on stage went a little way to reflect Dave’s many achievements

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Nov 04 23 · 1 tweets

Have I been cloned by AI?

I’m definitely still in the room….. Not watching online as just mentioned.

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Nov 04 23 · 1 tweets

All the finalists get a certificate, so popping on my Wythenshawe FM @Wythenshawe FM Radio (97.2FM), DAB & Smartspeaker hat on for a couple of minutes to celebrate this. #cras23

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