Andover Talking Newspaper spreading the word about service

Andover Talking Newspaper (ATN) creates audio recordings of the Andover Advertiser, to help keep visually impaired listeners informed about what is happening in their community.

Each week, a team of six volunteers record a selection of newspaper articles of local interest including main headlines, events, entertainment, sporting results and funeral details.

The readings also include editor’s letters and helpful tips, such as how to avoid internet fraud and scams.

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Committee chair Freddie Viggers with the listening equipment (Image: Andover Talking Newspaper) Recordings are available on an easy to operate USB device and delivered free each week to those in need.

Volunteer reader Sue Parker said: “An editor prepares news articles for the reading team of three, to give an insight behind the headlines into local clubs, personalities, charities and fundraisers. And for one editor, the role has personal significance: her father was a former editor of the Andover Advertiser.”

Deputy chairman John Gray continued: “Recordings are then refined by the producer and duplicated for posting out each week, using the Royal Mail free post facility for the visually impaired. The recording is also uploaded to the British Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF) website (search under South East Region Talking Newspapers), which is accessible to anyone, sighted or unsighted. This allows access via an app, a computer, or through Alexa and has enabled ATN to reach listeners around the world.”

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Sir Freddie Viggers, who recently took up assumed responsibility as chairman, added: “Andover Talking Newspaper is a very worthwhile service that has been running for several decades, providing a vital sense of connection and community, as well as keeping our listeners up to date with news and events in the local area.

“We have a loyal and hardworking team of volunteers – from readers and producers to editors and distributors – and we try to make the recordings as interesting as possible, for example by including descriptions of photographs. The service is free and easy to access, and we’d be delighted to welcome more listeners onto our weekly circulation list.”

For more information about Andover Talking Newspaper contact the ATN secretary on 07941 743 214 or email andovertalkingnews@gmail.com.