What is KR Talking News?

The KR Talking News is a free fortnightly audio newspaper available on CD or cassette tape delivered direct to your door. It is a council-funded service which provides news, views and features from the local newspapers circulating within Kirklees. It is delivered to your door and is free of charge. If you struggle to read conventional newspapers then we would be pleased to hear from you.

Contact details

KR Talking News
Kirklees Transcription Service
Huddersfield Library
Princess Alexandra Walk
Huddersfield
HD1 2SU

Tel: 01484 221793
Fax: 01484 221952
Email: kirklees.recorder@kirklees.gov.uk

How do I get on the mailing list?

If you are interested in receiving the KR Talking News or would like a sample copy to try please contact us or call in to our office.

What kind of information can be found on the KR Talking News?

We include a selection of local news from North and South Kirklees; from Batley to Birdsedge, Dewsbury to Denby Dale. In fact any news item likely to appear in one of the many local newspapers circulating in the Kirklees area. The owners of these newspapers kindly allow us to use any of their news and feature stories and indeed some local journalists have been known to come along to our studio and read their stories for us.

In addition to news and features our editors also actively seeks out interviews and information of particular interest to people with a visual impairment.

How does the service work?

All aspects of this service are free. Every fortnight a CD or cassette tape will arrive in the post in either a Orange (CD) or Yellow (Tape) wallet.

An address card with your name and address will be slotted into a clear plastic window in front of the wallet. When you have finished listening to the latest edition of the KR Talking News, simply place the CD or tape and address card inside the wallet and post it back to us. Our address is printed on the wallet itself.

Please note all our CDs and tapes can be posted free post and the wallets can be posted in any post box without paid postage. Alternatively you can hand it in at any Library Information Centre within Kirklees or even call into the office at the Huddersfield Library.

A little bit of history

The KR Talking News, originally called The Kirklees Recorder, was initially funded by a grant from a Kirklees Council lottery, which operated back in 1979. It originally started with just two cassette recorders linked by a cable - with the conference room at Huddersfield library acting as a makeshift studio.

A retired local journalist, Maurice Ford was brought in to oversee its launch and the talking newspaper soon had around 100 listeners.

It is now part of Kirklees Council Culture and Leisure Service and has its own studio in Huddersfield Town Hall. These days it is produced by two sound engineers, a News Editor, a Features Editor, administration officers, two volunteer presenters and a bank of more than thirty volunteer readers. At last count there were over 400 listeners on the mailing list and the team had just recorded the 700th Edition.