Fingers on the pulse
Published 9 Nov 2012 10:00
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MONDAY afternoon and school friends Jodie Maclean and Holly Finlayson are enjoying a good gossip.
Music, life, love and the latest celebrity crush - the outgoing 17-year-olds are never short of things to say, as listeners to their prime-time 4-5pm show on Barrhead's community radio station know only too well.
"We always end up talking about something crazy and completely off what we had wanted to talk about, but that just makes it a bit easier to do," laughs Jodie, a student at Barrhead High School, picture far left with Holly on Halloween.
"We have been doing this for about seven months now and it has been awesome really.
"We got into it because we knew another one of the long-term presenters, and she was always talking about how great it was to be on air and chat on the radio.
"We came down to learn a bit more about the station and now me and Holly have our own show - we get to pick our music and topics of conversation although we never seem to really stick to it."
Pulse FM is celebrating three years on air in 2012, and the not-for profit project still relies on grants and donations to keep going.
However, with a cast of driven and talented young volunteers behind it, the station, which broadcasts on 98.4FM from its base within the former janitor's house in Barrhead High, has a strong fanbase across East Renfrewshire.
Even still, nerves do play a part for the student DJs.
Thomas McGready, 15, pictured far left, and 16-year-old Daniel McGowan, right, both from St Ninian's High School, are usually on air on Wednesdays from 4-5pm.
Daniel says: "Eventually you just forget the microphone is there and just begin chatting quite comfortably.
"We don't tend to do too much preparations for our show - we know what music we want to play and we have a look at what the latest news is, and what people are talking about, before we go on air.
"Musically, we do a bit of everything. None of us tend to stick to one kind of music."
Thomas and Daniel also cover sport, and report on everything from SPL football to local results.
Thomas said: "I get a bit nervous the first few minutes we are on air but it does help to be able to talk about things and settle in."
Fourteen-year-old DJ Gregor Drawn, second from right, from Mearns Castle High School, sees the station as a stepping stone to a future on the airwaves.
Last week was his first proper show on air and he is hoping to earn himself a regular slot.
"I've always been interested in media or journalism and especially radio," he says. "I originally just came down here to take it in and get a bit of experience.
"I am really excited about it - the experience I get here could really help me in the future."
Station organiser Carolynne McKendry said: "The kids are fantastic in what they do and what always impresses me is their enthusiasm and confidence on the air.
"Some kids might be extremely shy off air but as soon as they are behind the microphone, it all just melts away.
"That's what we are hoping to do with the School\u2019s Out programme, to give kids a way to build their confidence using live radio, and of course the youngsters love being on air."
This article appeared in Barrhead News 07 Nov 12
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