Good Radio Club is back
We’re getting the show back on the road. Putting the band back together. Starting this coming Saturday 13 June we’re planning a run of three Good Radio Clubs, starting with an innovative double-bill of heavyweight Saturday night factual fare. At 2000 you’re invited to listen to a fascinating Paul Gambaccini Archive on Four called The First A&R Man, about Fred Gaisberg who was - among other things - the first person to record Caruso’s voice
After an interval (during which it’s suggested that you take some light refreshment) you should tune into the repeat transmission of the first of Professor Michael Sandel’s Reith Lectures at 2215, about “the prospects of a new politics of the common good.” The lectures have already had a lot of press and Sandel kicks off with a reference to the expenses scandal so this is very topical stuff.
Then, on Tuesday 16 June we’re jumping networks to have a go at a documentary that sounds right up our street about music’s response to Thatcherism, called Stand Down Margaret. It’s the first of two parts and it’s presented by Jeremy Vine. If you were there or if you’re just fascinated about the era, I think this could be a really fun GRC.
And here’s a reminder of how it all works:
People talk about radio programmes on Twitter all the time. They’re already talking about the Reith Lectures, for instance.
Good Radio Club makes it possible for everyone talking about a radio programme to see each other’s contributions and to react in real time. To debate the issues raised with others while listening and to hear a range of interesting opinions.
It’s really simple. Just listen to the programme live (it doesn’t work with Listen Again) and tweet your thoughts or reactions as you listen. To be included in the conversation, just include the hashtag #goodradioclub in your tweets. Add the hashtag #Reith if you’re tweeting about the lectures (lots of Reith nuts are already using that tag).
Follow the conversation by searching for #goodradioclub or #Reith (or #goodradio for that matter) at search.twitter.com or Twitterfall (there are lots of other Twitter search products: choose one you like).
Bookmark this link to search Twitter for #Reith, #goodradioclub or #goodradio and this link to do the same at Twitterfall.
Jem Stone and myself (@bowbrick) will be around throughout (as will the Radio 4 blog) and we’ll try to make the occasional useful contribution. For the Reith Lecture, Jennifer Clarke, producer of the series’ interactive elements, will join in - and I know she’s prepared lots of useful material for the experiment. She’s already twittering as Reith2009.
If you have any questions or suggestions for Good Radio Club, I suggest you follow @bowbrick, @jemstone and @Reith2009 on Twitter and ask there.
Steve Bowbrick, editor, Radio 4 blog
