In 1992, over 200 women made history in Bristol by setting up the UK's first women's radio station - Fem FM. Bristol Record Office has digitised the original broadcast tapes, now available for research as part of the Fem FM archive of recordings, photographs and other material.
On International Women's Day, M Shed will mark the launch of the archive by hosting a panel discussion about women's achievements in radio over the past two decades. Is the climate better for women broadcasters in 2014?
The event is open to anyone interested in the media and how to get more women's voices on air. Guest panellists (all originally involved in Fem FM) will include:
- Sue Clark, Sony award-winning radio producer
- DJ Ritu, DJ and world music guru who has broadcast with BBC London and the World Service
- Ali Grant, chair of Bristol community station BCFM
- Jacqui Wilson, manager of the internet station Passion Radio Bristol
- Erin Riley, Senior BBC Producer
Free admission. Please reserve your place by emailing bro@bristol.gov.uk or phoning 0117 922 4224 (Tuesday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm)
Listen online: audio documentary about Fem FM
Here is something that may not be in the archive, a recording of their test broadcasts..
And here's a 20 min clip from Lady G.
1 comment:
Fem-FM produced an interesting week's output as one of the first RSL's in Bristol. According to on air comments in one of the last broadcasts by S.Y.T. Radio, the operators of Fem were encouraged to establish a permanent, unlicensed women's radio station - how different history might have been then! Also, Fem's claim to be the first all women radio station is not quite correct: Anoraks UK reported the pirate station Girls FM in London in 1987, being a station totally staffed by female DJ's and MC's.
Terry :)
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