Insanity (radio)

StudentMedia
name=Insanity
logofile=
type=Radio Station
launch=1998
web=http://www.insanityradio.com
university=Royal Holloway, University of London
other media=Offical Student Publication - The Orbital
Independent Newspaper - The Founder
distribution 2=On Air
dist details 2=1287MW
distribution 3=Online
dist details 3=http://www.insanityradio.com
format = New Music
Chart Music
Decades
Eclectic
owner = SURHUL|

The student radio station Insanity is the official student radio station of SURHUL in conjunction with Royal Holloway, University of London and a member of the Student Radio Association. Established in 1998, the station currently broadcasts during term-time and has a full 24 hour schedule covering the entire week. It is available locally on 1287MW and online at its website.

History

The station began as the Radio Society in Spring 1997, after Ed Harry had sent four delegates (Richard Clarke, Jenny Monaghan, Karen Williams and Ian Jacobsberg) to the annual Student Radio Conference in Edinburgh.

Insanity was formed a year later, taking its name loosely from the fact that Royal Holloway's founder Thomas Holloway also opened the Holloway Sanatorium, a hospital for the treatment of the mentally ill, a short distance away. It started broadcasting RSLs in 1998, meainng that these broadcasts could only be for 28 days at a time, twice a year, and was forced to operate from a studio in Royal Holloway’s historic Founders building with a satellite dish positioned out of groundview on to the building’s roof. [http://surhul.co.uk/files/minisites/1838/orb10.pdf]

However, in 1999 the station was forced to move out of the Founders' Building and find a new home. Matt Deegan and Richard Clarke started making lists of rooms in the University that they felt were acceptable to base the radio station. All these ideas were dismissed, except for a seminar room in the Queens Annexe. After getting the budget cleared by the Students' Union it was constructed into a broadcasting studio, a meeting room and a production studio, which still operates to the present day.

The station celebrated its 10th Birthday on 16th February 2008 with a public reunion of many Insanity alumni, including many former board members and presenters.

Broadcast

The station's radio frequency has changed many times since being established, between MW and FM frequencies. Presently Insanity broadcasts on 1287MW, with a catchment area that extends locally to Egham, Englefield Green and Staines. The station can also be listened to via webstream, available on the station's website.

Board Structure

Like its campus media counterpart The Orbital, the positions of Station Manager and Assistant Station Manager are elected every year via a campus-wide election. All Royal Holloway students are allowed to vote in these elections. The rest of the board is composed of positions that cover the running of the station and its publicity, elected by Insanity's members. Since being established in 1998, the changing needs of the station have meant that various positions have either been created, changed or have become defunct. The current board (for the academic year 2008-2009) are as follows:

*Station Manager – Tim Stephens
*Assistant Station Manager – Chris Fitch
*Programme Controller – James Donovan
*Head of Production – Nick Fogg
*Head of Music – Ben Brown
*Head of Training – Tom Matthews
*Head of Events – Sophie Anderson
*Head of Publicity – Georgia Woolley
*Head of News – Helen Johnson
*Head of Marketing – Kevin Muturi
*Head of Web Development – Seb Castle
*Head of Technology – Chris Christoforides
*Head of Operations – Josh Ramirez

Because it is the official radio station of the students union at Royal Holloway, its ultimate responsibility lies with the one of the sabbatical officers, the Vice President of Communication & Services.

Alumni

Below is a list of Insanity's Station Managers who have taken charge of Insanity since its first airdate:

*2008-2009 – Tim Stephens
*2007-2008 – Joe Friel
*2006-2007 – Alasdair Gray
*2004-2006 – Chris Jackson Jones
*2003-2004 – Matt Crocker
*2002-2003 – Helen Picridas
*2001-2002 – Richard Turley
*2000-2001 – Natasha Sims
*1999-2000 – Matt Deegan
*1997-1999 – Richard Clarke

Awards & Recognition

The station has won numerous Student Radio Awards in its history, under its formal name of Insanity 1287AM.These include:
*"2006" Silver Best Male Presenter – Phil Noyce [http://www.studentradio.org.uk/awards/2006/winners.html]
*"2005" Silver Best Student Radio Station [http://www.ulu.co.uk/content/index.php?page=6334]
*"2005" Bronze Off-Air Promotions and Imaging - Suzy Goodall [http://www.studentradio.org.uk/awards/2005/winners/]
*"2004" Silver Best Student Radio Station [http://www2.su.rhul.ac.uk/insanity/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=153&Itemid=149]
*"2002" Winner Best Marketing and Promotions [http://www.rhul.ac.uk/Whats-New/news2002/insanity.html]
*"2000" Winner Best Marketing and Promotions [http://www.rhul.ac.uk/Whats-New/news2000.html#radio]
*"1999" Winner Best Marketing and Promotions [http://www.mattdeegan.com/2007/10/08/student-radio-awards-judging/]

External links

* [http://www.insanityradio.com Insanity website]
* [http://www.surhul.ac.uk SURHUL website]
* [http://www.studentradio.org.uk Student Radio Association]
* [http://www.mediauk.com/radio/439/insanity Insanity on Mediauk.com]
* [http://www.studentradioalumni.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=2 Insanity Alumni page at ASRA]
* [http://surhul.co.uk/files/minisites/1838/orb10.pdf Insanity 10th Birthday article in The Orbital]