Mike from Talking N-Vision recently attended the Talking News Federation (TNF) Conference in Winchester, joining fellow talking newspaper representatives from across the country to share ideas, explore new developments and discuss the future of accessible audio services.
The conference brought together people dedicated to helping blind, partially sighted and print-disabled listeners stay connected with local news, information and their communities. With a programme featuring technology, audience engagement, innovation and social media, there was plenty of opportunity to learn from others and bring fresh ideas back to N-Vision.
Exploring the upgraded Hear! service
One of the key sessions introduced the upgraded Hear! service, exploring how its latest developments could benefit both TNF member organisations and the listeners who rely on their recordings.
The session provided an opportunity to learn more about the improvements and consider how the service could help talking newspapers develop their audio offerings, improve accessibility and make their content easier for listeners to enjoy.
There was also dedicated time for delegates to discuss technical matters and take a closer look at the Hear! service. Rather than simply receiving an overview, attendees could focus on the features and areas most relevant to their own organisations, ask questions and exchange ideas about how the service could work best for their needs.
For Talking N-Vision, which continues to develop the ways people can access its free talking newspaper service, exploring these developments was a valuable opportunity to consider how technology can help reach and support even more listeners.
Fresh thinking and stronger community connections
The conference also featured sessions led by Anna O’Brien and Nigel Dallard from Winchester Radio, who explored how broader content, community engagement and fresh thinking can help audio services connect with more print-disabled listeners and attract new audiences.
The discussions highlighted the importance of looking beyond traditional approaches and considering what listeners want from their local talking news service. By broadening the range of content, finding new ways to engage with communities and exploring different approaches to delivering information, talking newspapers can continue to remain relevant and accessible.
For N-Vision, this is particularly important. Talking N-Vision provides much more than local news, offering listeners a varied mix of community information, sports, activities and events, quizzes, poetry, recipes and other features designed to keep people informed and entertained.
Building on this variety, while continuing to explore new ways of reaching people, will help ensure Talking N-Vision remains an important source of information and connection for people living with sight loss across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.
Celebrating innovation at the Penny Melville-Brown Awards
One of the highlights of the conference was the presentation of the Penny Melville-Brown Innovation Awards, which celebrate talking news organisations developing new ways to improve the listening experience and make printed information more accessible.
This year’s award was won by Birmingham Talking Newspaper, with N-Vision finishing as runner-up.
The recognition was a proud moment for N-Vision and reflects the charity’s ongoing commitment to developing Talking N-Vision and exploring innovative ways to deliver its service.
Over recent years, Talking N-Vision has continued to embrace new technology and expand its digital presence, helping listeners access recordings through different platforms and making the service available to a wider audience. Its work demonstrates how a traditional talking newspaper can evolve to meet changing needs while keeping its listeners at the heart of everything it does.
Although N-Vision did not take the top prize this year, finishing runner-up among the entries was a fantastic achievement and an encouraging endorsement of the team’s efforts to improve and develop the service.
Making the most of social media
The programme also included a session with Katie Jemmett, who was invited to speak about social media and how it can be used to its full potential.
Social media offers talking news organisations valuable opportunities to raise awareness, share information, promote their services and connect with people who may not yet know that a free audio service is available to them.
The session explored the importance of making the most of these platforms, encouraging organisations to think about how they communicate online and how they can use social media to reach new audiences.
For N-Vision, social media is an important part of keeping the local community informed about its services, activities, events and fundraising. It also provides another way to highlight the work of the charity and introduce more people to Talking N-Vision.
Taking ideas from the conference forward will help N-Vision continue to build its online presence and explore new ways to engage with listeners, supporters, volunteers and the wider community.
Looking ahead
The TNF Conference was a valuable opportunity for Mike to meet fellow talking news representatives, learn about developments in audio technology, share experiences and discover new ideas for the future.
From the upgraded Hear! service and discussions about community engagement to the celebration of innovation and the potential of social media, the conference reinforced the importance of continuing to adapt and develop.
For Talking N-Vision, the aim remains clear: to provide an accessible, informative and entertaining service that helps people living with sight loss stay connected with the news and what is happening in their local community.
Finishing runner-up in the Penny Melville-Brown Innovation Awards was a welcome recognition of that commitment, and Mike returned from Winchester with fresh ideas and inspiration to help N-Vision continue moving forward.
