Oliver Needham Radio Presenter & Web Designer

Cross Rhythms
October 2010 to May 2012

Based in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Cross Rhythms is a Christian media organistation that has a thriving website and also works with three community radio stations across the UK.

During my time at Cross Rhythms City Radio, broadcasting to Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, I presented a weekly round up of the best interviews over the week. This ranged from musicians to local figures and guests with specialist knowledge of local subjects. The show was pre-recorded and went out every Sunday afternoon.

The main focus of my work at Cross Rhythms was their website (see Web Design).

Cre8 Radio
May 2011 to Present

Cre8 Radio is a community radio project by Staffordshire University in Stoke-on-Trent. The first RSL was broadcast in May 2009 and has done each year since.

During the 2011 broadcast I was asked to be Technical Manager and take over the running of the website. This echoed my involvement in One Media Group and allowed me to further develop features of the website. I also presented the Weekend Broadcast Show from 8am to 10am. On my first show I played an interview I did with The Hoosiers at the performance in Stoke-on-Trent.

In 2012 I reprised my role as Technical Manager and Weekend Breakfast presenter. However this broadcast was unique as we launched when the Olympic Torch came through the city and we did a special Drivetime show, which I was broadcast operator for from Hanley Park. I organised the press passes and arranged an interview with the Olympic Torch Relay Producer. I also assisted in broadcasts from several other events throughout the broadcast.

A broadcast for 2013 has already been confirmed and I've been asked to reprise my Technical Manager role.

Tulip Radio
May 2005 to September 2010

Tulip Radio was the first radio station that I ever worked at. Based in Spalding, South Lincolnshire, the station started out doing RSLs to cover the Spalding Flower Parade, and later the Spalding Pumpkin Parade.

I enrolled a student in their Media Training Course with four others from my secondary school. There we learnt basic journalism skills such as interviewing and reporting as well as how to present on radio.

During my years at the station I helped with many outside broadcasts, PA setups at local events, promotions and presented shows during RSLs and once the station gained a community radio licence in April 2008.

Towards the end of my time at the station I presented the Friday evening dance show, the Saturday morning breakfast show and alternated with another presenter on the Sunday morning faith-based show.

Grapevine FM
August 2010 & 2011

Grapevine FM was an RSL setup for the Grapevine International Celebration event which annually took place at the Lincolnshire Showground. The event centred on the Christian faith and comprised of seminars and teachings from speakers from across the world.

In 2010 I worked with Stephen Brien and presented a daily two hour afternoon show with looked at the day's highlights and prepared attendees for the evening meeting in the Big Top.

In 2011 the show became four hours long and there was an addition of two other presenters; Ben Waters and Simon Cooper. The show retained much of the same content and went out live daily from 3pm to 7pm. A feature of the show was the daily quiz where each member of the team created five questions and the others had to then answer them. The quiz master each day was also who controlled the broadcast desk.

The event changed its name in 2012, to One Event, and the radio staton broadcast again as One Sound FM.

Jam FM
August 2012

Jam FM was an RSL as part of the Essex Internation Jamboree, held in August 2012. The station was ran by staff and members of Scout Radio, based also in Essex.

Having been involved in Scouting and asked to set up Poacher FM for 2013, I decided to be part of the Jam FM team to see how Scout Radio approached radio for a young audience on a camp site.

During the broadcast I presented the daily Evening Entertainment show with Charlotte Hall-Smith which covered all the evening entertainment which was coming up as well as playing requests from those on site. The entertainments usually comprised of a film in the cinema, a themed night in the Dance tent and performances on the Main Stage.

Highlights of the broadcast were the performances from Lauren Thalia (Britain's Got Talent series 6 finalist) and the EIJ's Got Talent contest.

I interviewed Lauren Thalia on the evening show before her performance on the Main Stage, whilst Charlotte and I did live commentary of the talent contest later in the week.

XpressFM
May 2009

Howdy, I'm in Section 2.

Howdy, I'm in Section 2.

Here are some examples of pieces which have been broadcast.

I've done various bits of production whilst working at stations and here are some examples.

Cross Rhythms
October 2010 to May 2012

Cross Rhythms is a community radio station based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

I started volunteering during my first year at Staffordshire University and have done a couple of days there ever since.

The IT department is where I volunteer and help with a variety of technical things, including the website. Other roles included reviewing their social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. This then developed into suggesting tools and ways to increase interaction through these online channels.

I also assisted with the design of the MYvoice website section, which involved designing several concepts and then having them approved by my line manager and also the marketing team.

A project which I completed in 6 days was the building of the Cross Rhythms Radioplayer console. Read more »

One Media Group
September 2010 to Present

One Media Group is a student-led media group based at Staffordshire University.

During my second year at the university, I was asked to become the Technical Manager at the station. This role includes looking after the technical aspect of the studios and also the online operations of the group.

At the beginning of my role I was asked to look at the viability of moving the articles system from the Students' Union system to an independant one.

I organised the WordPress installation and then proceeded to purchase a theme which was then customised to our needs.

Further development was made in conjunction with a previous radio colleague, Christopher Smith, when we built the 'On Air' script to dynamically display the current on air show.

Cre8 Radio
May 2011 to Present

In May 2011 I became part of the Cre8 Radio team and was asked to look at their WordPress based site and give it an update.

We moved the installation to a new hosting and bought some new domain names to keep the branding across the station simple.

The site made use of many social media sharing options and I was able to add in the well received 'On Air' script, as developed for the OMG website.

Throughout the broadcast I ensured that articles were being published on the website and that content was correct and well presented.

I reprised my role managing the website during the 2012 broadcast and expect to be involved in the 2013 broadcast.

KingsStock Music Festival
June 2009 to Present

KingsStock is a music event held deep in the countryside of rural Cambridgeshire. KingsStock aims to promote young and upcoming bands who take inspiration from their Faith.

In 2009 I was asked to help out with the event and set up the website for details of the event and also the artists performing. I was also asked to compere the main stage.

By the event's second year there were three stages and many more acts. The website got a fresh coat of paint and a new features.

This year saw me completely redesign the website from scratch and also the introduction of online ticket sales. I set up the festival's Eventbrite account and integrated it with the website.

I also look after the Facebook and Twitter communications and also have been on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire to promote the event.

Fun Farm
July 2009 to September 2010

My role at Fun Farm was Promotions & Marketing Assistant, which involved everything from online promotion work to instore offers and advertising on the shop floor.

I established an email marketing system, using MailChimp, and entered all the customer information so emails could be tailored to individuals.

During my time there I also worked with external companies to get the best print deals possible for our leaflets and also our advertisments in the local press.

I was also asked to redesign the tired LaserStorm website, which simplified the display of content and improved what information was available to potential customers.

Cross Rhythms Radioplayer Console
July 2011

Shortly after finishing University for the summer, I was asked to work on the UK Radioplayer console for Cross Rhythms City Radio in Stoke-on-Trent.

This involved working to the guidelines provided by Radioplayer and also integrating the scripts already established on the standard Cross Rhythms player.

The project was completed in six days, over two weeks and has since been recognised by the Radioplayer organisation. Read the article »

Jam FM Radioplayer Console
July 2012

I signed up to volunteer at the Essex Internation Jamboree in summer 2011 and opted to work with their RSL, Jam FM.

A month before broadcasting I was asked by Scout Radio (who run Scout based RSLs across the UK) to design their UK Radioplayer console for the broadcast during August 2012.

I worked closely with the station manager and the branding team at EIJ to ensure that the player had funcationality and it fitted into the Jamboree's brand.

The player also boasts functionality with iOS devices, which many Radioplayer consoles currently don't.

Sorry Till Closed
July 2011

As part of my BTEC National Diploma course at Peterborough Regional College, we were asked to produce a short video which had a storyline. It could've either been a standalone video or part of a series.

My coursemates and I decided to produce a video based on the 1994 film Clerks. We organised for it to be filmed in a local Somerfield, where one of our team worked.

Over four weeks we visited the location once a week for 3 hours and managed to produce a 4 minute, 54 second video.

My role was to help write the script and to organise on location sound. During post-production I created the opening title sequence, the 'time' graphics and also took individual scene edits and put them together.

The final piece is available to view on YouTube (contains strong language).

KingsStock
June 2009 to Present

To help promote the KingsStock Festival, I created several promotional videos of the upcoming performances and headline information.

Each year I also collate all the photos taken at the event and create photo montages. These tell the story of each day and also the other activities that go on around the festival site.

Below are a selection of these videos.

• 2010 Photo Montage

• 2012 Line Up Promo

• 2012 Photo Montage

Britain's Got Talent
October to December 2012

Whilst studying at Peterborough Regional College, I was invited to attend auditions for a production which was part of the BBC Poetry Season.

The piece was a group of friends around a table, reciting the Benjamin Zephaniah poem The British.

I was invited along to the recording at an Italian resturant in Spalding called Amici. My lines are approximately half way through the piece. I'm wearing a checked shirt and red tie.

The produced piece was broadcast on BBC Three as part of the BBC Poetry Season and is available via the BBC Poetry Season website and on the BBC's YouTube channel.

BBC Poetry Season
August 2009

Whilst studying at Peterborough Regional College, I was invited to attend auditions for a production which was part of the BBC Poetry Season.

The piece was a group of friends around a table, reciting the Benjamin Zephaniah poem The British.

I was invited along to the recording at an Italian resturant in Spalding called Amici. My lines are approximately half way through the piece. I'm wearing a checked shirt and red tie.

The produced piece was broadcast on BBC Three as part of the BBC Poetry Season and is available via the BBC Poetry Season website and on the BBC's YouTube channel.

Young Voters' Question Time
Friday 12th August 2011

What do you get when the 'youth' of Britain take part in riots across the country? Young Voters' Question Time: Riot Special of course!

I applied via the BBC Question Time/BBC Three website to be in the audience for the programme and got a call at 11am on the day to go to BBC Television Centre and be in the audience.

It was a fantastic experience and I documented my trip to TVC on my blog, which you can read here.

Outstanding Contribution Award
One Media Group - 2011/12

From July 2011 I became the Techncial Manager at One Media Group. My role included ensuring the studios were operational, that outside broadcast equipment was suitable and also looking after the website.

A major project I undertook was to move the OMG website off the MSL based system that the Students' Union ran and instead utilise WordPress. I worked on the project for four months before it was officially launched of Christmas 2011.

Other projects I worked on were the technical aspects of broadcasting the coverage of Varisty 2012 and our first standalone Sports broadcast from Oxford Brookes University.

At the annual Students' Union Activities Awards Evening, I was awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award 2011/12 award, nominated by the station managers for that year.

Best Male Presenter
One Media Group - 2010/11

During my first year at Staffordshire University, I got involved in presenting on the university's student radio station, One Media Radio.

Using my previous experience at Tulip Radio, I presented the Hometime show on a Monday afternoon for two semesters.

At the annual Students' Union Activities Awards Evening, I was awarded the Best Male Presenter 2010/11 award, nominated by the station managers for that year.

Student Rep of the Year
Peterborough Regional College - 2010

Howdy, I'm in Section 2.

Some Award!
Tulip Radio

Howdy, I'm in Section 2.