Related Articles
The Brighton and Hove Talking Newspaper scheme delivered free news bulletins weekly to blind people in and around the city by creating a podcast-style show using stories from The Argus.
But the charity was hit by dwindling listener figures and newer technology and it made its final recording in March.
This left some 25 blind and partially sighted listeners no way of finding their local news.
But this is all set to change as the first edition of a new show was recorded at the end of July.
Wealden Talking News has added the Brighton area to its portfolio of news bulletins for the blind. It previously covered Battle to Newhaven and the region in between.
The closure of the Brighton and Hove Talking Newspaper marked the end of a 47-year-long service to blind people, allowing them to stay in the loop with The Argus’s coverage through a weekly recording which was delivered to their homes.
The team at Wealden Talking News celebrated the recording of the first Brighton edition on Friday, July 21, with the chairman and recording team coming together to produce the bulletin.
Studio manager Dianne Steele said: “Setting up this new edition has required several changes to our current working practices but with the adjustments made, we look forward to expanding our listenership.”
News articles by The Argus and BBC Sussex are taken from the internet. The team said it was grateful for the “comprehensive and accessible news coverage”.
Chairman Alan Cook said: “It was a privilege to be a part of this landmark edition and I would like to welcome all our new Brighton and district listeners and assure them that we will listen to their feedback whether positive or negative – we aim for the highest possible standards.”
The Talking Newspaper is run by 74 volunteers, who were given the Queen’s Award for voluntary service in 2022, some 47 years after the charity was founded in 1975.
It is free to blind people who can listen on a memory stick delivered to their home and the postage is covered by the Royal Mail.
