Skip Navigation | HOME | UK Indymedia | Editorial Guidelines | Mission Statement | About Us | Contact | Help | Support Us

manchester Indymedia

Politicians watch out: young peo;ple can ask tricky questions, too.

David Ball | 12.02.2007 12:07 | Education | Social Struggles | Liverpool

Young people are often dismissed as inarticulate thugs. But most are caring individuals, who think deeply about the issues facing their communities and the wider world. sadly, in most cases, their ideas are ignored. But a media training course in Halton is giving them a chance to be heard by the people in power.

Danielle Wynn and Mike Hall, MP
Danielle Wynn and Mike Hall, MP

David Clare and Mike Hall, MP
David Clare and Mike Hall, MP

David Clare talks to Mike Hall, MP (library photo)
David Clare talks to Mike Hall, MP (library photo)

Halton FM logo
Halton FM logo

l-r Cllr Marie Wright, Lady Mayoress, Kat Hughes Member of Youth Parliament (Hal
l-r Cllr Marie Wright, Lady Mayoress, Kat Hughes Member of Youth Parliament (Hal

React logo
React logo

Students, Staff and Invited Guests
Students, Staff and Invited Guests

Students, Staff and Invited Guests 2
Students, Staff and Invited Guests 2

Students, Staff and Invited Guests 3
Students, Staff and Invited Guests 3

Studio 1
Studio 1


The first Halton Access to Media (HAM) reACT Press Pack Awards were a resounding success, demonstrating that the way young people are portrayed is very often unfair.

Britain's youth have valuable insights into today's issues and interesting and thoughtful views on a variety of subjects. By providing them with the opportunity to express these thoughts, Halton Access to Media is empowering them to become confident, articulate and productive individuals.

HAM is a not-for-profit organisation based in Runcorn and covering the Borough of Halton. Our aim is to improve the community and the lives of people who live here. The reACT course provides media training for young people who are interested in building a career in the broadcasting industry and the Awards were a well-deserved acknowledgement of their hard work and enthusiasm.

Aimed at 12-18 year olds (up to 25 if the young person is homeless), HAM's reACT course provides hands-on experience of the technologies involved in, as well as discussion of the issues surrounding, radio broadcasting.

Funded by Comic Relief and Children in Need, students have the opportunity to create programmes in professional Studios, using the latest audio editing equipment, as well as their own DVDs and podcasts. It has been HAM's great pleasure to have helped many young people grow in confidence and employability as they learn more about this exciting area.

David Clare was one of the award winners. He sums up the general feelings of students when he says that the course has made him more confident. "I've also gained more experience of things going on in the local area," he adds. "I would definitely want to become involved with Halton FM's next broadcast. On a previous occasion, David interviewed Mike Hall, MP for Weavervale.

Mr Hall, who gave our students their Awards, says: "I'm delighted to have been asked to present the awards. Everything about reACT is absolutely spot on. Good news stories about young people very rarely make the headlines. But through Halton Access to Media and Halton FM we've got young people out in the community, learning new skills and developing their talents," he continues.

"You can see the improvement in their self-confidence and the way they are going to make a positive contribution in the years to come."

Councillor John Swain, the Mayor of Halton, was a Guest at the Awards. He also believes that the reACT course - and Halton FM - can help young people become more involved in their communities.

"By providing them with the opportunity to express their concerns about their community they can become part of the democratic process. All aspects of our lives are affected by politics.

"So many things are determined by Halton Borough Council and we need to see more young people challenge and bring to task politicians and institutions. The younger voice needs to be heard and reACT and Halton FM is the ideal vehicle for that. "

Indeed, for those interested in British society and politics, the media plays a crucial role in our democracy. reACT is a perfect opportunity for young people to learn more about this aspect of life in Britain today.

HAM also provides a variety of video services to local community groups as well as running Halton FM, the Borough's very own radio station.

After our successful Ofcom application for a full-time licence, we are now looking forward to being on air permanently, bringing the very best music, chat, news and information to local people.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us on (01928) 835290. Alternatively, you can email us on  gaynorbevan@haltonaccesstomedia.co.uk

David Ball
- e-mail: davidball@haltonaccesstomedia.co.uk

Download this article in pdf format >>

Email this article to someone >>

Submit an addition or make a quick comment on this article >>

Comments

Display the following comment

  1. hm...... — riotact

Publish

Publish your news

Do you need help with publishing?

Kollektives

Birmingham
Cambridge
Liverpool
London
Oxford
Sheffield
South Coast
Wales
World

Other UK IMCs
Bristol/South West
London
Northern Indymedia
Scotland

Manchester Topics

Analysis
Animal Liberation
Anti-militarism
Anti-racism
Bio-technology
Climate Chaos
Culture
Ecology
Education
Energy Crisis
Free Spaces
Gender
Globalisation
Health
History
Indymedia
Iraq
Migration
Ocean Defence
Other Press
Palestine
Public sector cuts
Repression
Social Struggles
Technology
Terror War
Workers' Movements
Zapatista

Manchester Actions 2010

Flotilla to Gaza
Mayday 2010
Tar Sands

Manchester Actions 2009

COP15 Climate Summit 2009
G20 London Summit
Guantánamo
Indymedia Server Seizure
University Occupations for Gaza

Manchester Actions 2008

2008 Days Of Action For Autonomous Spaces
Campaign against Carmel-Agrexco
Climate Camp 2008
G8 Japan 2008
SHAC
Smash EDO
Stop Sequani Animal Testing
Stop the BNP's Red White and Blue festival

Manchester Actions 2007

Climate Camp 2007
DSEi 2007
G8 Germany 2007
Mayday 2007
No Border Camp 2007

Manchester Actions 2006

April 2006 No Borders Days of Action
Art and Activism Caravan 2006
Climate Camp 2006
Faslane
French CPE uprising 2006
G8 Russia 2006
Lebanon War 2006
March 18 Anti War Protest
Mayday 2006
Oaxaca Uprising
Refugee Week 2006
Rossport Solidarity
SOCPA
Transnational Day of Action Against Migration Controls
WSF 2006

Manchester Actions 2005

DSEi 2005
G8 2005
WTO Hong Kong 2005

Manchester Actions 2004

European Social Forum
FBI Server Seizure
May Day 2004
Venezuela

Manchester Actions 2003

Bush 2003
DSEi 2003
Evian G8
May Day 2003
No War F15
Saloniki Prisoner Support
Thessaloniki EU
WSIS 2003

Languages

english

IMCs


www.indymedia.org

Projects
print
radio
satellite tv
video

Africa

Europe
antwerpen
armenia
athens
austria
barcelona
belarus
belgium
belgrade
brussels
bulgaria
calabria
croatia
cyprus
emilia-romagna
estrecho / madiaq
galiza
germany
grenoble
hungary
ireland
istanbul
italy
la plana
liege
liguria
lille
linksunten
lombardia
madrid
malta
marseille
nantes
napoli
netherlands
northern england
nottingham imc
paris/île-de-france
patras
piemonte
poland
portugal
roma
romania
russia
sardegna
scotland
sverige
switzerland
torun
toscana
ukraine
united kingdom
valencia

Latin America
argentina
bolivia
chiapas
chile
chile sur
cmi brasil
cmi sucre
colombia
ecuador
mexico
peru
puerto rico
qollasuyu
rosario
santiago
tijuana
uruguay
valparaiso
venezuela

Oceania
aotearoa
brisbane
burma
darwin
jakarta
manila
melbourne
perth
qc
sydney

South Asia
india


United States
arizona
arkansas
asheville
atlanta
Austin
binghamton
boston
buffalo
chicago
cleveland
colorado
columbus
dc
hawaii
houston
hudson mohawk
kansas city
la
madison
maine
miami
michigan
milwaukee
minneapolis/st. paul
new hampshire
new jersey
new mexico
new orleans
north carolina
north texas
nyc
oklahoma
philadelphia
pittsburgh
portland
richmond
rochester
rogue valley
saint louis
san diego
san francisco
san francisco bay area
santa barbara
santa cruz, ca
sarasota
seattle
tampa bay
united states
urbana-champaign
vermont
western mass
worcester

West Asia
Armenia
Beirut
Israel
Palestine

Topics
biotech

Process
fbi/legal updates
mailing lists
process & imc docs
tech