Isle of Wight Radio dropped it’s normal programming yesterday to provide constant coverage of the bad weather on the Island.
Due to the volume of calls the station set up an emergency hotline number, which took over 500 calls in just under six hours. The entire sales and programming team at the part TLRC owned station were drafted in to take calls, pass on messages and answer questions from listeners.
The studio received 386 text messages from listeners providing weather and road condition updates as well ask asking questions about schools closures, transport and even if their bin would still be emptied.
Programme Controller and Breakfast show presenter Paul Topping said “I have never seen anything quite like it, it felt like the entire Island was listening to the station. We had an unprecedented 1000 listener interactions in under 6 hours. It just goes to show the huge place local radio still has in peoples lives.’
Dan Bates, Station Manager said “it was an exceptional day both weather wise and with the response we received from our listeners. We have always had an exceptional relationship with our listeners but this level of interaction was the true definition of citizen journalism”.
