Category Archives: Radio

16-24 Dec. Poem a day from ‘STAR’ on Evening Extra BBC Radio Ulster

Poetry, PortfolioRadio, Radio, Star

Every day from Monday 16th December till Tuesday 24th December, Christmas Eve, I’ll read a poem on BBC Radio Ulster’s drivetime programme, ‘Evening Extra’.

A bold idea, mixing headlines, weather reports and poetry!

The poems are from my collection, ‘STAR: poems for the Christmas Season’ (Culture and Democracy Press). STAR is available from No Alibis, Belfast; The Secret Bookshelf, Carrickfergus; Little Acorns, Derry or any bookstore. Online up to last posting dates from The Books Council of Wales gwales.com https://tinyurl.com/37f4rruj. ARTWORK copyright Martin Erspamer.

Monday 16th:

Tuesday 17th:

Wednesday 18th:

Thursday 19th

Friday 20th

STAR copyright Martin Erspamer

Monday 23rd

Guest-editor Arts section Fortnight magazine

Blog, Editor, Portfolio, PortfolioPrint, Prose, Radio

It has been a great pleasure to guest-edit the Arts section of issue 492 of Fortnight.

The politics, social affairs and arts magazine launched in Northern Ireland in 1970. Throughout the Troubles and beyond it was an essential forum for discussion and evaluation. Fortnight re-launched in 2020.

Out today, 15th January.

Subscribe
The cost of four copies during the year will be £25 (UK) and £35 (EU & World)
Please send your payment direct to the Fortnight Publications account at the
Ulster Bank, Belfast City 1
sort code: 98-00-60; acct no: 13078431
BIC: ULSB GB2B; IBAN: GB15 ULSB 9800 6013 0784 31
You must also send details of your postal address to [email protected]

To order a copy
The cost of individual copies direct from No Alibis
83 Botanic Avenue, Belfast BT7 1JL
will be £7 click & collect or £7 plus UK/EU postage
Order direct from https://noalibis.com/ £7 click and collect or £7 plus postage; or 4 issues per year to Fortnight Publications, Ulster Bank Belfast City 1; 98-00-60; 13078431/ BIC:ULSB GB2B; IBAN: GB15 ULSB 9800 6013 0784 31 fortnight50th@gmail

BBC Radio Wales: Weekend Word

Poetry, Portfolio, PortfolioRadio, Radio

Excerpt: On 1st December

We are living at a time when, through the media, we see power being wielded ruthlessly. We witness the destruction caused by war and by wayward market forces. Often the two are linked. There’s so much conflict happening that the news can hardly keep up with it. It can feel overwhelming.

The 2023 Reuters Institute digital news report states that close to 36% of news consumers say they avoid news, often or sometimes. To some extent this is prompted by concern to protect  mental health.  We need accurate and trustworthy news but its frequency and pervasiveness across platforms can lead to feelings of helplessness – knowing so much; able to do so little.

And some interests will encourage us to stay passive; to undervalue the good we can do; to leave politics to the powerful; to neglect the power of compassion, generosity, solidarity.  I try to describe that cynical outlook in this short poem:

DECEMBER 28th

After Christmas – always – Childermas: Slaughter of Innocents; Threat Neutralised.

The Prince of War, glistening with success, allures us.

This, he says, is what you want. Not a stable, sheep-herding losers, a star.

Devolution of Broadcasting, Wales

Industry, Media, Portfolio, PortfolioRadio, PortfolioTelevision, Prose, Radio, Television

In the midst of the general election hurly burly an important consultation is proceeding in Wales: an inquiry into whether Wales should acquire greater powers over broadcasting. The deadline for submitting evidence has been extended from today, 9th December to Monday, 20th December. Whatever its outcome, this inquiry marks a key developmental stage in the process of devolution in Wales.  Continue reading Devolution of Broadcasting, Wales →