Pub closures in England are at an all-time high. Liverpool has almost 500 public houses employing more than 6,000 people.

In many areas of the City they’re seen as community hubs, and generate a strong sense of loyalty.

But why are pubs closing at such a high rate? 

I produced this story at Radio City in Liverpool for the March 14, 2014 edition of the National Broadcasting School's NBS Tonight online news show.


Why are pubs closing in Liverpool?

This week we had a birthday mention for a program that helps inner city kids play with a world class orchestra.

It's the fifth anniversary of the West Everton Children's Orchestra which is taught by musicians  from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

My report begins with parents of some of the children in the In Harmony program. 

It was produced for the March 21, 2014 edition of NBS Tonight, the National Broadcasting School's weekly student news radio show that is broadcast on the internet.

In Harmony Liverpool 5 year Anniversary Concert

NBS Live Budget Special: There's been a lot of talk this week about the reduction in bingo tax. 

The bingo industry has been lobbying for help for some time.

So they were pleased when the Chancellor halved the tax paid on bingo profits, but will it make a difference?

I went to Knotty Ash, not to see the Diddy Men, but to find out more.

This report was produced for the March 21, 2014 edition of NBS Tonight, the National Broadcasting School's online radio news show.

What impact will a reduction in bingo tax have?

Liverpool airport received a boost in this week’s budget. 

Chancellor George Osborne announced the government would support new routes from regional airports and specifically mentioned Liverpool.

I went to John Lennon airport to find out more.

This report was produced for the March 21, 2014 edition of NBS Live, the National Broadcasting School's online student news show.

Liverpool Airport mentioned in 2014 Budget

After a mid-morning editorial meeting we were given a reporting assignment and asked to produce a 1 minute package by 5pm. My topic was the proposed £2 million modernization of St John's Market by Liverpool City Council. 

In recent years the market has noticeably declined and many stalls are now shuttered and empty. Will giving a facelift to the entrance and interior attract more customers? I went to the market to find out more.

This report was included in the March 28, 2014 edition of NBS Tonight, the National Broadcasting School's online news show.

Modernization of St Johns Market

Earlier this morning  I had the privilege to talk to Wirral cycling legend Chris Boardman who was in Liverpool to launch the new shared bike rental scheme, called City Bike.

Here's an excerpt of my interview in which Chris discusses what he hopes City Bike will bring to the city. 

Picture credit: Kenyon Fraser via Twitter (@KenyonFraser)

This report was included in the March 28, 2014 edition of NBS Live, the National Broadcasting School's online news show.

Chris Boardman launches City Bike in Liverpool

Following the launch of Liverpool's new public bike hire scheme, City Bike, I was interested in following up on the city's vision for cycling.

Councillor Tim Moore, Cabinet Member for Transport and Climate Change on Liverpool City Council kindly came into the Radio City studios.

I played him an excerpt of what Chris Boardman said (see SoundCloud below).

Here's an excerpt of my interview with Councillor Moore for NBS Live.

Photo Credit: Liverpool Labour

This interview was produced for the March 28, 2014 edition of NBS Tonight, the National Broadcasting School's online news show.

Liverpool Council Vision for Cycling

It certainly doesn’t feel like summer but British Summer Time (BST) starts this weekend. 

Clocks move forward at 1am on Sunday morning, so watch out if you have travel plans.

I spoke to Louise Devoy, Curator of the Royal Observatory Greenwich and asked her why we have British Summer Time?

This report was produced for the March 28, 2014 edition of NBS Tonight, the National Broadcasting School's online news show.

Why do we have British Summer Time?

The 2014 British Artistic Gymnastics Championship is being held in Liverpool this weekend at the EchoArena.

I spoke with Team GB member and local gymnast Rebecca Tunney (@Rebecca_Tunney) and Tim Peake from British Gymnastics.

This report was produced for the March 28, 2014 edition of NBS Tonight, the National Broadcasting School's internet news show.

2014 Artistic Gymnastics British Championship

What makes a great hat for ladies' day at the Grand National Aintree races? 

I went to Felicity Hat Hire on Queens Drive at the Rocket Junction in Liverpool to find out.

This report was produced for the April 4th NBS Tonight student news show broadcast on the internet at NBSLive.co.uk.

2014 Grand National Ladies' Day Hats

April 4, 2014 edition of NBS Tonight, produced by students on the National Broadcasting School's Diploma in Radio Journalism. 

This week's theme was Ladies' Day and the Grand National at the Aintree Races.

This was first broadcast on NBS Live, the school's internet radio station.

NBS TONIGHT Grand National Special

The @NBSUK course recently spent a day at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Simon Woodward, Emergency Response Service Manager and the man in charge of the airport's fire service describes what it's like to be an airport firefighter.

This piece was was produced for the April 11th NBS Tonight student news show broadcast on the internet at NBSLive.co.uk.

Liverpool Airport Fire Service

For the April 17, 2014 edition of NBS Tonight, the weekly internet radio show from students at the National Broadcasting School, I took a look at the state of biomedical innovation in Liverpool.

Growth of the life sciences sector is key to building the region's "knowledge economy." I went to Liverpool Science Park to find out more.

The package starts with a live two-way with the show's presenter, Marie Friend, who was back in a Radio City studio.

Audio excerpts were also included in a post published on Biotech Strategy Blog: http://biotechstrategyblog.com/2014/04/can-liverpool-become-a-global-biomedical-hub.html/

Can Liverpool become a global biomedical hub?

Liverpool is one of the UK’s best tourist destinations.

In Tripadviser’s Travellers’ Choice awards… the city recently came in fourth… behind London, Edinburgh and Torquay.

What used to be called tourism is now referred to as ‘the visitor economy’ and it’s worth billions of pounds.

The Liverpool waterfront is a major attraction not only for leisure visitors but for those coming to conferences and events at the Echo Arena and BT convention center. 

This report was produced for the May 2, 2014 edition of NBS Tonight, the student internet radio show of the National Broadcasting School.

Report on Liverpool Waterfront Visitor Economy

A new Bishop of Liverpool has been announced. I had the privilege to do a short interview with the Bishop-Designate, the Rt Rev Paul Bayes.

I also spoke with the Dean of Liverpool Cathedral, the Very Rev Dr Pete Wilcox about some of the challenges Bishop Paul will face.

This piece was produced in the style of Radio 1 Newsbeat for the May 9, 2014 edition of NBS Tonight, the National Broadcasting School's weekly internet radio news show.

Challenges facing new Bishop of Liverpool

At the start of Dementia Awareness Week, I was a guest on Radio Merseyside's Daybreak show on May 18, 2014 presented by Helen Jones.

I talked about my late mother, Audrey who had Alzheimer's disease and some of the innovations in dementia care that I've seen in Liverpool.

You can read more on Biotech Strategy Blog about:

Everton FC's Pass on the Memories program. Link: http://3nt.co/1rlsCAp

Sedgemoor Dementia Support Centre that won a national design award. Link: http://3nt.co/QUpfn1



Raising Dementia Awareness on Merseyside

This is a radio documentary that I produced for dementia awareness week in May 2014. It was the final assignment for a Diploma in Radio Journalism.

My Mother Audrey (shown in a 2009 photo in Malta) had Alzheimer's disease, a form of dementia, so I took a personal journey to look at some of the innovations in dementia care taking place in the Liverpool City Region. 

I am grateful to all the organizations and people who gave generously of their time for a student project. Thank you!

The documentary includes excerpts of interviews with Grahame Smith (Liverpool John Moores University), Tommy Dunne (http://Twitter.com/TommyTommytee18), Henry Mooney (Everton FC), Joy MacDonnell (Liverpool City Council) and Dave Burrows (Damibu).

For further information I have written blog posts about two of the initiatives mentioned in the documentary:

* Everton FC Pass on the Memories: http://3nt.co/EvertonPOTM. Many thanks to Everton in the Community for writing about my visit: http://3nt.co/EvertonFC.

* Designing for Dementia, which includes an audio-slideshow of my visit to Liverpool City Council's Sedgemoor dementia support centre: http://3nt.co/Sedgemoor

Dementia touches the lives of so many. Thank you for listening. 

Documentary: Living well with dementia - a personal journey

Larry Neild in his June 1, 2014 City Talk (105.9FM) program about Liverpool Politics used several recordings from my May 23, 2014 coverage of the Liverpool City Council local election count. 

This excerpt of his program includes interviews I did with Cllr Richard Kemp, leader of the liberal democrats and new elected Cllr Tom Crone of the Green Party. Interview clips were also broadcast on City Talk and Radio City on Friday, May 23, 2014 in several news bulletins during the day.

Link to City Talk site: http://www.citytalk.fm/on-air/city-talks-politics/

City Talk broadcast of Liverpool City Council Election coverage

Interviews and reports about life in Liverpool. 

Produced by Pieter Droppert for a diploma in radio journalism.

Popular tracks by Liverpool Life