Each local commercial radio station in the UK has requirements in respect of its music and local content, such as news, speech levels etc. These requirements are set out in the station "Format", a document issued by Ofcom, the UK’s radio regulator.
This Public File contains details of the elements that Ofcom regulate, such as music tracks, local news etc. It is intended to give you a better understanding of our output and what we are doing for our local community.
News:
News Bulletin Schedule including which bulletins provide local news and which provide only UK-wide bulletins (together with a note of extended bulletins where relevant to Format). Essex FM broadcasts local news bulletins on the half-hour between 0600 and 0900 and hourly from 0900 and 1900 on weekdays.
These bulletins contain a mix of local, national and world stories, along with sport, weather and entertainment news.
At the weekend, bulletins containing local, national and world news are broadcast on Essex FM between 0700 and 1300. Additionally, national bulletins are broadcast from 1400 through until 1900 on Saturdays and until 1600 on Sundays, then again 2200 through until 0500 seven days a week.
Contact details for the News team
The Essex FM news team contacts are as follows:
News Editor and Deputy News Editor email addresses can be found at the bottom of these pages.
News can be contacted by Telephone: 01245 524550
Fax: 01245 524559
Schedule:
Essex FM's programme schedule can be found here
Automated programming:
The average number of hours of automated programming within weekday daytimes and within daytimes on Saturdays and Sundays. There is usually no automation during weekday and weekend daytimes.
Local programming:
All of Essex FM's weekday daytime output (0500-1900 and 2200-0100) and peak time weekend (0100-1900 Saturday, 0000-1400 Sunday) output is produced and presented from our local studios.
Off peak programming (Music Control, Music on Demand, Saturday Night Bam Bam, The Myleene Klass Show and hit40uk) is produced at various studios, owned and operated by Essex FM's parent company GCap Media plc.
Ofcom Localness Guidelines and how to complain to Ofcom:
Ofcom, the government regulator with responsibilities for local radio, has produced localness guidelines that this station adheres to. These guidelines can be read via the link at the bottom of this page. In addition all local radio stations have written 'formats' that they must follow at all times. You can read ours here.
If you have a complaint to make about this station, in the first instance you should contact the programme controller at the address below. If you are unhappy with the response you receive, you can complain directly to the regulator, Ofcom. Their website has full details about how to do this
Station contact details
Essex FM's programme controller is Chris Cotton
Events/charities support or coverage
Essex FM provides free publicity on air to charitable and non-profit making local events and organisations. Many of these items are listed in a special section on our website
Recent programme and/or news highlights
Essex FM is a regular media partner for Cancer Research UK's Race For Life. The station has also supported Christmas light switch ons at various locations around the county. Also Moring Crew presenter Su took part in a pantomime performance in Chelmsford. Essex FM has supported the Chelmsford Chieftains throughout their 2006/07 season and been the sponsor at matches during the season. Essex FM is a major supporter of the 'Essex FM / Essex Police 2 Smart 4 Drugs' campaign which provides interactive 'anti drug' road show events for approx. 5000 school children each year. In January 2007 the station launched a campaign in conjunction with Essex Police to get tougher sentencing for knife crime.
Essex FM provides extensive traffic and travel information, with hourly bulletins and 'instant updates' during daytime hours 7 days per week (until 1600 on Sunday) and more frequent updates (normally every 15 minutes) during during prime time weekday during shows (breakfast time and early evening).
Any other issues or areas of interest likely to impact on localness
Although off-peak programming is produced at various other studios, owned and operated by Essex FM's parent company Gcap Media PLC, local information is provided at all times through Essex FM's 'Essex Events' inserts (except during hit40uk on Sundays 4pm-7pm). In addition, local weather is broadcast at various times during overnight programmes.
The station's playlist
Essex FM's current playlist can be found here
News Editor jessica.shiddell@gcapmedia.com
Deputy News Editor mary.sanders@gcapmedia.com
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