Creating Legends at Print Radio Tasmania

Honor Marino [00:00:02]:

The functional literacy rate in Tasmania is 48%. Who are the amazing people around the state who are doing fantastic things and working on creative and novel projects to improve the statistics. So about 6 months ago, Matt Field from Powerd Media approached us at Print Radio Tasmania, and he had this idea about creating a podcast about literacy. For one, it's a really challenging issue that people are familiar with in Tasmania. But two, there is a portion of the audience who listen to print radio because we read the newspapers every day. So those people who have lower literacy levels are tuning in. We have recruited four hosts to teach them the basics of podcasting, all while creating an actual podcast that is gonna be released out into the world.

Rosie Putland [00:01:11]:

Hi. My name's Rosie, and I'm proudly disabled. So we're here in Hobart and I've been helping produce and host a podcast called Literacy Legends. I've just sort of been waiting my whole life for someone to ask me to make a podcast with them so I absolutely jumped at the opportunity. I have my own digital accessibility consultancy. So day to day, I'm working with clients about how we can make a digital products and services more accessible to people with disabilities. And I think that interest is really reflected in my episode where we talk about assistive technology and how that can improve literacy.

Clip from Literacy Legends:

Can you tell us some of the most common technology and literacy barriers that students face, particularly when they're transitioning to higher education?

Clip from Literacy Legends [00:01:57]:

One of the biggest and first barriers that I certainly see a lot is purely just that transition. Going very much from a state funded support system where there's a lot of 1 on 1, support for a student into the student now needing to be their own advocate.

Annalise Haigh [00:02:15]:

So podcast is quite different. I never knew about podcast. It's a good challenge and challenge, my strengths, my weaknesses.

Hrisanthi Dokos [00:02:25]:

Having a diverse voice on the radio as well is a really important thing. I believe that, an opportunity like this podcast enables people to connect with others in that human way.

Annalise Haigh [00:02:38]:

Test. Test. Test. 1, 2, 3. My name is Annalise Haigh, and I'm your host of this episode of Literacy Legends.

Clip from Literacy Legends [00:02:52]:

Who taught you to read here?

Pretty much everyone's like everyone helped in their own way. So, like, if I had trouble with spelling something, I wouldn't have to hesitate to ask them to help me read it or spell it.

How did you feel to learn?

Good. Happy.

Rosie Putland [00:03:11]:

Programs like this building the capacity of particularly young disabled people in their storytelling and bringing the stories of their peers forward, I think is so, so important and brings us so far in getting more representation in the media overall.

Honor Marino [00:03:29]:

Each of the hosts have had an opportunity to learn the basics of microphone technique, interview technique, how to use sound effects and music, and how to tell a story within a sort of 10 to 15 minute episode. So it's tailored to every single host, what they need physically and intellectually to shine. Initially, there was a bit of concern about accessibility issues of the building, but what we found is that we go to them and a microphone can go anywhere.

Hrisanthi Dokos [00:04:09]:

When you're working in community radio and any community organization, resources is also an issue. We've been really, really fortunate with Powerd Media who funded the project and made available Honor to to work as a producer.

Rosie Putland [00:04:25]:

Honor is just fabulous. She's been such a pleasure to work with. One of her biggest skills is trying to find diverse stories and challenging herself to make sure that she gets the voices of people who may not necessarily have had their voices amplified before.

Annalise Haigh [00:04:42]:

I found out that Honor is amazing of podcasting, and she's great mentor to have. She helps me with speaking. Give me my confidence back. It's so good.

Hrisanthi Dokos [00:04:58]:

Being involved in a project like this is really exciting, and I think for the participants, there are so many amazing things that come out of it.

Rosie Putland [00:05:06]:

I'm so excited, for the series to air. Honor keeps, like, calling me off and telling me, like, you gotta put podcast producer on your resume now. So I think once the series airs, I will feel really confident, to be able to do that.

Annalise Haigh [00:05:23]:

I inspire other people with being a leader of different podcast. In the future, I'll make more episodes.

Rosie Putland [00:05:32]:

I'm really excited to share the stories of people from all around Tasmania. I'm excited for our hosts, for their voices to be heard as well and how they've shaped their episodes. And I'm excited for what the future brings and how we might tell more stories, of Tasmanians with disability.

Annalise Haigh [00:05:53]:

If you have disability, if you do not have disability, if you love something, don't give up. Just be you. Just actually be you. Express yourself, just like Madonna does.

Rosie Putland [00:06:07]:

My one piece of advice for people who might wanna give podcasting a go or might wanna give storytelling a go is just to start. And there's so many examples of storytellers out there, and not a lot of them are disabled, and so you might not see that representation in yourself. But I say go and make the representation.

Annalise Haigh [00:06:29]:

I love Literacy Legends.

Honor Marino [00:06:31]:

And you know what we say when we're finishing?

Annalise Haigh [00:06:33]:

That's a wrap.