Public Information File
Contents:
1 What is the Public File?
2 News Bulletins
3 Recent News
4 The News Team
5 The Programme Schedule
6 Automation and Local Programming
7 Events and Charities we support
8 Coverage Highlights
9 Music Playlist
10 The Format
11 Ofcom Localness Guidelines
12 Contact Us
13 How to Complain
1. What is the Public File?
Each local commercial radio station in the UK has requirements in respect of its music and local content, such as news etc. These requirements are set out in the station "Format", a document issued by Ofcom, the UK media regulator.
The Public File contains details of elements Ofcom regulate over, such as music tracks, local news etc. It is intended to give you a better understanding of our output and what we are doing for the community we serve.
The Public File is available as a print out on request. Any comments on the file can be made to us or Ofcom.
2. News Bulletins
Below are details of how often we broadcast news bulletins and whether they are local, national or international news.
Monday to Friday
Local, National and World News
0600, 0700, 0720, 0740, 0800, 0820, 0840, 0900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300 Lunchtime News Update, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1620, 1640, 1700, 1720, 1740, 1800 Evening News Update, 1840
National and World News
0000, 0100, 0200, 0300, 0400, 0500, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300
Saturday
Local, National and World News
0700, 0800, 0830, 0900, 0930, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300
National and World News
0000, 0100, 0200, 0300, 0400, 0500, 0600, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300
Sunday
Local, National and World News
0800, 0900, 1000, 1100
National and World News
0000, 0100, 0200, 0300, 0400, 0500, 0600, 0700, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300
3. Recent News
To view some of our latest news articles, please view the local news page.
4. The News Team
If you have any queries about News, contact one of our journalists via the usual 'Contact Us' details.
5. The Programme Schedule
To view today's Programme Schedule, please click 'On Air'.
6. Automation and Local Programming
Sometimes it is necessary to pre-record (sometimes called Automation) programmes on the station. Currently we only automate 1 hour during weekday daytimes and 7 hours during weekends.
Some of our programmes are networked from off site. However on average at least 18 hours a day are from our premises.
7. Events and Charities we support
Silk FM is proud to support charitable organisations and we are always keen to hear from new groups with charitable status.
Here are some of the charities we have supported over the past few months:
Together Trust
Drop In Centre, Macclesfield
East Cheshire Hospice
Macclesfield Seals (Swimming Club)
Talking Newspaper for the Blind
Alzheimer’s Society – Macclesfield Branch
Friends for Leisure
David Lewis Centre
Adventure Farm Trust, Knutsford
Macmillan Cancer Relief
Disability Information Bureau
Samaritans
Little Ducks
Age Concern
Rotary Club (Poynton, Congleton, Macclesfield)
Fermain Youth Centre
St.John Ambulance, Congleton
The Furniture Mine8. Coverage Highlights
8. Coverage Highlights
For the 2nd consecutive year, Silk FM has recently been crowned Radio Academy Northwest Radio Station of the Year. We are particularly proud of this award as it recognises excellence for stations with a TSA of under 300,000 – it champions the single most important thing that we do best – Localness.
Here is a selection of some of the projects Silk FM has instigated or being involved over the past year.
Local Hero Awards
For as along as there has been Silk FM, there has been the Silk FM Local Hero Awards. We staged the 9th ceremony in October, recognising the real stars across the area, in 10 categories. This is a big occasion for Silk, a real highlight in our events calendar.
Macclesfield Family Funday
On Sunday 21st August, Silk FM broadcast live from one of the most popular events in the Cheshire calendar. The whole of the Silk FM team gave up their Sunday to be part of the big show from 8am ‘til 4pm.
We chatted to some great characters on-air, including those supplying the entertainment in the main arena, representatives from charities and MP Sir Nicholas Winterton
Save Macclesfield Maternity Unit
When we broke news of the proposed reduction in services at Macclesfield Hospital we were inundated by concerned listeners from across the region. We followed the story right to it’s conclusion, covering the huge ‘Pram Push’ and joining the trail of campaign coaches that travlled from Macclesfield to Manchester.
A Song For Christmas
Last November we ran a competition to find a brand new Christmas song. This was aimed at schools within our area, and over 40 entered for a chance to win a new computer. The best entries on our Breakfast Show, and after a week of frantic audience voting, Sandbach School for Boys were crowned winners. Now in it’s 3rd year, this competition has attracted a great deal of interest, last year picking up a much-coveted Jeruslem Radio Award.
Cheshire Show
The annual Cheshire Show attracts 80,000 visitors across 2 days. Silk FM covered the event with 11 hours of programming. We got involved with a lot of the activities on offer too, and interviewed over 20 guests from a range of pursuits and interests.
Battle of the Bands
Our region is a real ‘hot-bed’ for live music acts and in May we launched our search to find Cheshire’s best new live band. Over 100 local bands entered the competition, and following weeks of heats and a Grand Final, ‘High Wired’ scooped the prize and got the opportunity to perform as part of our Concert in the Park in front of 8000 music lovers last Summer.
We have great plans to support more charities this year In May as part of our 10th birthday celebrations, we’ll be raising 10 Grand in 10 Days.
And we’ll continue to give programming airtime to local charities, eager to communicate their messages.
All of our hard work was recognised at last years Sony radio Awards, when Silk FM were nominated in the Station of the Year category.
9. Playlist
To give you an idea of our music, below is a couple of hours from July.
Bat Out Of Hell - Meatloaf
You're All I Have - Snow Patrol
Shiny Happy People - Rem
Bad Day - Daniel Powter
Sail Away - David Gray
Virginia Plain - Roxy Music
I Want To Break Free - Queen
Who Knew - Pink
Into The Groove - Madonna
Country Girl - Primal Scream
Should I Stay Or Should I Go - Clash
Leave Right Now - Will Young
Moving On Up - M People
I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker - Sandi Thom
Get Back - Beatles
Thank You - Jamelia
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Talk - Coldplay
Man! I Feel Like A Woman - Shania Twain
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
Give Me The Night - George Benson
She Moves In Her Own Way - Kooks
10. The Format
The format is the regulation document Ofcom issue. You can read or download it from Ofcom at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/formats/al154-2.doc
11. Ofcom Localness Guidelines
Ofcom issue Guidelines defining what "localness" is for a Local Radio station. You can read them on the Ofcom website: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/car/localness/
12. Contact Us
To contact us click here for our contact details.
13. How to Complain
If you have any complain about the radio station, for example, something you have heard - an advertisement or news story - in the first instance contact the station using the above details.
If you are not satisfied with the response you can contact Ofcom (the industry regulator) on 020 7981 3040 or via their website; www.ofcom.org.uk
