Digital switch for newspaper

OLDHAM’S Talking Newspaper has gone digital after technological advances made recording on cassettes increasingly difficult.

The association has provided a weekly digest of news from the Oldham Evening Chronicle since 1977.

Changes in technology made it hard to continue with tapes and ageing copying equipment needed replacing so the association switched to CDs in October.

These are distributed to around 250 listeners — who have a visual impairment or a form of disability which means they cannot read — free of charge each week.

Only a small number of listeners have been lost because they have not wanted to to make the change and those who want to continue but are having difficulty are being helped and supported.

Volunteers have also coped well with the change which has affected the producers and the copying teams most. The sound quality of the recordings has improved significantly.

The association is now looking to widen its activities by undertaking recording commissions from other agencies.

If you want to enrol a listener, become a volunteer or have some spare room to rent out, contact Janet Whitehead at OTNA, 439 Middleton Rd, Oldham OL9 9TN. Tel: 0161-624 7171 or e-mail jwhitehead18@talktalk.net