Local radio stations in Cumbria have swung into action to cover yesterday's tragic shootings.
BBC Radio Cumbria took today's Mike Parr breakfast show to Whitehaven, while CFM spent the night in the town gathering audio for regular updates throughout their breakfast show.
Speaking to Radio Today, Graham Moss, Assistant Editor at BBC Radio Cumbria said: “It’s been a terrible six months in Cumbria. With the floods and last weeks coach crash with two schoolchildren killed, we’re tragically in a habit at the moment of dealing with big stories – but this took us into a new area.”
“We changed the schedule and tone of our output and deployed all available staff … we were broadcasting messages from the emergency services telling people to stay inside, lock the doors and not to pick up hitchhikers. It sent a chill down my spine to listen.”
Bauer owned CFM Radio has been criticised in online forums for its coverage through the day – but the reality seems to be very different with the station suspending normal programming until the weekend.
A spokesperson for Bauer Media told Radio Today: "CFM broke the news as soon as it knew and broadcast half hour updates throughout the day. Presenters were giving regular information as we received it from the emergency services – all news and updates were also added to the stations website.
"We did not broadcast the usual evening music programme to allow our local presenter and teams on the ground to provide crucial information and local bulletins every 30 minutes until 10pm. Our media teams stayed in the Whitehaven area overnight gathering audio which ran every 15 minutes throughout breakfast … CFM has four highly experienced reporters on the ground reporting live."
Both stations have enjoyed award success recently for coverage of flooding at the end of last year. CFM won with News Team of the Year at the annual Bauer Awards, BBC Radio Cumbria were nominated in the breaking news category at this years Sony Radio Awards.