91Èȱ¬

I read the news, source the news, write the news, interview, phone and pester for interviews. The main enjoyment for me is about being there and performing a service.

Like with breakfast news, people are waking up and you are letting people know what is going on in the world and supplying them with that information. There is a great power in dictating what is happening with the world. Saying ‘Look listen to this, it’s really important. What I’m about to tell you could change your life today, tomorrow or for the rest of your life.' And it’s a real buzz.

Pressure of working on the news

It can be scary if information is new and a bit patchy. That’s the fun of it and you are working on adrenaline. Sometimes you have to ad lib and think of things off the top of your head, that can sometimes be the best part of it. You need to put yourself in the position that you imagine you are having a face to face conversation with somebody. That’s why radio is so personal.

Being news man is the best job in the world. I love putting a story together, my passion is giving people that story.

Keeping it interesting

You have to be creative with your words. Make sure you are using the right words. Good descriptive words that people understand. Don’t try to be flash and think of big words, I use everyday language that we all use.

The way you talk is also important. Make the words come out of your mouth and sound interesting and sell the story.

Stories

South Yorkshire is massive, I’m new to the area and I never knew how big it was. I’ve traipsed across fields in the middle of nowhere and talked to the police about serious incidents. Stories start from nowhere, sometimes it can be someone who just calls the newsroom and says ‘did you know this was happening?’ Then you spend your time researching it, gathering information and seeing if it is true.

Moments

When I was working at another radio station I once had an asthma attack whilst reading the news. I was hyperventilating but everybody thought I was in tears. I’ve never actually burst out laughing on the radio. People won’t know this but there are always things going on around us when we’re reading the news. People are looking at you through the glass and speaking to you in your ears whilst your talking. You need to concentrate and try not to get distracted. I do wonder if people actually realise what on earth is going on in the background when we sound so calm.

All in the name of duty

When you have a story and you want to get it on-air as soon as possible, you go to any lengths. I’ve dodged bus lanes and red lights but you don’t need to do that anymore, the technology means that once we’ve recorded an interview we can send it back via technological means, rather than having to drive it back.

I have previously been stuck in a traffic jam and I got out of the car and left it where it was and ran back to the radio station to get it on-air before anybody else!

You do of course think afterwards, why on earth am I doing this but if it means breaking the news to people before anyone else, then you are prepared to do anything.

The 91Èȱ¬

It creates pride working for the 91Èȱ¬, for me. It’s still an organisation that people look to for impartial news. I use my mum as a benchmark. My mum listens and watches the news across different channels. She doesn’t believe it’s a true story until she has checked it out with the 91Èȱ¬ first and once they’ve broadcast it, she knows the story is true.

If you have a story for Nick, you can email him direct or call the 91Èȱ¬ Radio Sheffield newsroom on 0114 2675440.