COMMUNITY radio stations are to start to carry the First Minister’s daily coronavirus briefings every day from Monday.
The Afro-Caribbean station Jambo Radio, Radio Skye and Alive Radio in Dumfries drew up plans to start airing Nicola Sturgeon’s weekday updates after the BBC announced it was scaling back the programmes.
They believed they would be filling a vital gap in airing important information about the pandemic in the absence of the BBC's broadcasts.
READ MORE: BBC Scotland U-turns on Nicola Sturgeon's coronavirus briefings
However, last night, speaking after the BBC U-turn to restart the broadcasts, the three stations confirmed they were still going to press ahead with the plans.
“We recognise we have a duty to our listeners to broadcasts the daily briefings and give them vital information and updates on the pandemic,” said George Tah, director of Jambo Radio.
Tah said many of the station’s listeners were frontline workers in the NHS, education and transport and wanted to get the most to date information. Medd, programme controller at Alive Radio, based in Dumfries, said the station was responding to local demand for the latest information on the pandemic and what restrictions applied to people in Scotland.
“We have committed to carrying these and we shall do while there are public health messages to get out,” he said after the BBC’s change of mind.
He added that people living in the Dumfries and Galloway area had a special interest in getting the latest updates due to the restrictions differing from across the Border.READ MORE: Scottish independence: Yes voters send 'bold statement' to BBC at protest
Radio Skye in Portree is also gearing up to start broadcasting the briefings from Monday. Like the two others the Portree based station drew up the plans earlier this week before the BBC U turn to restart the broadcasts.
However, it is now still pressing ahead with them despite the BBC's decision to restart the programmes.
Suzy Lee, the station manager, said: "We are going to broadcast the briefings from Monday. I think it’s still worthwhile and good information to put out on radio, particularly for those who are working or driving and who can’t watch it on TV or online."
Lee added that the small commercial station which serves the island community was responding to a demand from listeners.
“As a small commercial station, we feel it is very important to be able to give our local listeners the opportunity to hear the latest Covid-19 updates from the Scottish Government that effect Scotland on a daily basis.
“As much as people can listen via Twitter, this is not accessible to everyone and we feel it is important for radio to pick this up for those who are vulnerable, elderly or not online. People are looking for reassurance and information, this is one of the most important news in modern times and we want to make sure people have access to it.”
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