Saturday night at the movies is just a radio dial away (From Gazette & Herald)

Saturday night at the movies is just a radio dial away

BUDDING radio stars will have the chance to take part in a one-off competition to rule the airwaves.

Malton cinema boss Jeremy Powell is set to run a pilot radio station for ten days, providing the next generation of radio presenters with a chance to try out the job.

Jeremy, who runs Ryedale Palace and has a background in broadcasting, said they were hoping to provide a training facility for young people hoping to break into the business, as well as a community-based project for the people of Malton and Norton.

"It's a way of using what I know to provide a community station, but also to give some training for young people in the area," he said. "It's a foot in the door for local people."

A Radio Stars audition has been set for Saturday, March 29, where young people aged 13 to 17 will present a short piece on a topical issue, he explained.

A panel of experts will then compile a shortlist of 10 to 20 hopeful presenters who will get full training before the station goes on air from April 17.

He added: "It's about involvement and communication. The young trainees will be on air as much as possible."

Media graduates Gareth Driver and Fay Atkins, who work at the Palace Cinema, said they would be providing help and support for the budding presenters.

Gareth said: "We want to show them how much fun it is. The emphasis is to get them to produce their own work, and they will not just be presenting.

"They will learn all about news and sports, working with the equipment in the studio and so on."

The £16,000 project has been half-funded by the Market Towns Initiative. But Jeremy said they were keen to hear from any local businesses who would be interested in advertising on the station, which will run until April 27.

There are hopes that the pilot scheme, which will broadcast just above 102FM, will draw a varied local audience.

School quizzes, live music from the Milton Rooms, a local soap and a version of 'Ryedale Idol' are some of the proposed programmes.

"We are going to do two church services on Easter Sunday, one live and one recorded, to really provide the community service for people unable to get out otherwise," said Fay.

Auditions start from 9am on March 29 and are on a first come first served basis.

Updated: 09:02 Wednesday, March 12, 2003