Association of Talking Newspapers in Northern Ireland

Charity Number NIC 103184

All across Northern Ireland, enthusiastic volunteers provide an audio version of their weekly local newspaper to keep blind and partially sighted people up to date with the news in their area. There are currently 10 Talking Newspapers - from Fermanagh in the West to Newtownards in the East and from Coleraine in the North to Newry in the South.

The Association of Talking Newspapers Northern Ireland, or ATNNI, aims to provide a "voice" for its members as well as to promote the aims of the Association on behalf of its members.

Not all of the Talking Newspapers operating in Northern Ireland are members of the ATNNI.

If you are interested in receiving one of the recordings, or know someone who would like to receive one, then please contact us using the link provided, and we can forward your details to the nearest Talking Newspaper for your area. There is no charge for this service. You do not need to pay a registration fee. Even the distinctive wallets which contain the recordings are delivered and returned free under an agreement with Royal Mail. Talking Newspapers used to record using cassette tapes but now use audio CDs or USB memory sticks. To listen, you will need a suitable player. Often the Talking Newspaper can help with this.

Areas Served

Causeway - Coleraine, County Derry/Londonderry
Craigavon - Portadown, County Armagh
Downsound - Downpatrick, County Down
Fermanagh - Enniskillen, County Fermanagh
Mid Antrim - Antrim, County Antrim
Mid Ulster - Cookstown, County Tyrone
Newry - Newry, County Down
North Down - Bangor, County Down
Soundaroundards - Newtownards, County Down
Strabane - Strabane, County Tyrone

Volunteer

Perhaps you are interested in becoming a volunteer. We are always looking for people willing to share their time and talent with us.

The majority of the teams comprise one recordist who takes care of the technical side, and three or four people who read the items. Teams usually work on a rota basis. Some teams meet every other week while others have up to six weeks between recordings. The majority of the teams work on a four week rota.

Readers

You might wish to consider becoming a reader. Usually this would involve being invited along to a recording and meeting the team. You would then be able to see what happens and probably have a go yourself. We are always looking for fluent readers with a good, clear speaking voice; a regional accent is no problem.

Recorder

If you are interested in technology, perhaps training to become a Recorder would interest you. Recorders, or Technicians, operate the equipment which makes the recordings and, in some cases, go on to copy the material ready for distribution.

As a recorder, you would get the equipment ready for the recording, ensure the time for each section does not over run, and, in many cases, fit in the music and any other items which have been previously recorded. Quite an important job as the quality of the end product depends on the expertise of the recorder. It would fall to you to replay and re-record when unexpected noises, hilarity or other distractions are inadvertently recorded. Equipment varies from TN to TN, but the usual equipment ranges from a minidisc recorder, to a sound system, to a sophisticated digital system which would not look out of place on the Starship Enterprise.

Editor

Many TNs have teams of editors who arrive before the recording and spend their time cutting the newspapers into little bits. Starting with two copies of the local paper, often donated by the printer or a local newsagent, the aim is to glean as much information as possible from the paper. Having cut out all the articles and sorted them into categories, the next task is to edit the text. This is necessary to keep the audio version to a standard size while ensuring all the major news stories are included.

Fundraising

Maybe your talent lies in fundraising; all TNs need funds to keep this vital service running.

Whatever your talent, we can certainly put it to good use. Please get in touch and we can discuss this further.