2ND January 1995
COASTLINE FM - RSL
NEWS COVERAGE
Personnel
The Coastline FM news-team was one of the strongest elements which went into making the station such a success. Headed by Dominic King (now head of news at KFM) and Including, Caroline Feraday (who had previously worked for lnvicta and is now at Capital) and Rebecca Shallcross (also now at KFM) the news team's talent was very apparent. The team also included local presenter John Dixon whose one minute monologue “ Dixon 's Despatch”, featuring John's very personal view of a local issue, was always fascinating and often sparked a flood of calls.
News Reports
Local news bulletins were aired on the half-hour between 6.30 am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday.
Main Magazine Programme
At 6pm on every weekday night the main Coastline Reports programme was aired.
Main News Stories
During the 28 days a vast number of local Issues were covered by Dominic and his team. These included:-
- Local Meningitis Outbreak - Coastline was the first source of Information regarding this outbreak at the River County Primary School in Dover . One girl was admitted to hospital and many worried parents used Coastline FM as their source of Information. We featured Interviews with local health officials, who gave advice to worried parents. The story was carried in the main national newspapers two days after we “broke” the story. It also had a happy outcome as the girl in question is now fully recovered.
- South Downs Beast Story - Over a number of months there had been several sightings of a very large wild catlike creature in the area. A further sighting prompted the news-team to put together a mini-documentary on the subject.
- David Shaw - Dover 's MP visited the Coastline studios and gave us a unique insight into what really goes on in “A Week in Parliament”.
- Animal Rights - Leading Animal Rights Activist, Carla Lane was interviewed by Dominic King. This was at the height of the “Anti Live Animal Exports Campaign” and Dover was being focused on as the live export trade was seeking to begin shipments through the port.
Other major stories covered included an attempted murder in the Dover District, an in-depth feature on a local psychopath released for care in the community, a local date-rape case and an innovative report on the Port of Dover .
Other News/ Current Affairs Features
Local news issues were also addressed in a weekly round-up of local issues presented along with the Editor of the Dover Express newspaper.
The Dover Express also contributed well known local writer and critic, Paula James, who presented a weekly controversial look at local Issues.
Copyright East Kent Radio Ltd 2004