Help & Support

🎧 How to Use the Listening Room

The Listening Room provides access to all our audio content organized by category:

  1. Browse Categories: Scroll through different sections like Local News, Sports, Culture, etc.
  2. Play Individual Recordings: Click the "Play" button next to any recording title
  3. Play Full Edition: Click "Play Full Edition" at the top to listen to the complete newspaper
  4. Audio Controls: Use pause, play, and volume controls in the audio player

🎤 Listening with Alexa

Listen to our talking newspaper hands-free using Amazon Alexa:

Getting Started

  1. Enable the "Hambleton Talking Newspaper" skill in the Alexa app
  2. Say: "Alexa, open Hambleton Talking Newspaper"
  3. Alexa will announce and play each recording automatically

A Quick Tip

Alexa listens best if you pause for a moment after the word “Alexa”, then say the rest in your normal voice. If it doesn’t start the first time, simply try once more.

Use Your Own Words

You can set Alexa up so it opens the newspaper whenever you say a phrase of your choosing — for example, “Alexa, my news” or “Alexa, read my paper”. Choose whatever feels natural and easy to say. You only set this up once, and then your own phrase works every time.

How to Set Up Your Own Phrase

This is done in the free Alexa app on a phone or tablet. It takes a few minutes. If you’d like a family member or friend to do it for you, they can simply follow these steps:

  1. Open the Alexa app and make sure the “Hambleton Talking Newspaper” skill is already enabled.
  2. Tap More (the menu), then tap Routines.
  3. Tap the + (plus) in the top corner to start a new routine.
  4. Tap Enter routine name and call it something like My News.
  5. Tap When you say something, then type the phrase you want to say — for example my news. (You don’t need to type “Alexa” — that’s always said first.) You can add up to seven different phrasings if you like, so it works however you say it.
  6. Tap Add action, choose Skills, find Hambleton Talking Newspaper, and select it.
  7. Choose which Alexa device it should play on, then tap Save.

That’s it. From then on, just say “Alexa, my news” (or whatever phrase you chose) and the newspaper will start.

A good idea: it’s well worth trying this out together at home first, so you know your chosen phrase works nicely before you rely on it.

Would You Like a Hand?

If setting it up feels tricky, please don’t worry — that’s completely normal. A friend or family member can help you set it up once. And if that isn’t possible, please get in touch by email at admin@nadtn.org.uk and we can arrange for someone to help you get started.

Voice Commands

  • "Alexa, open Hambleton Talking Newspaper" - Start listening
  • "Alexa, next" - Skip to the next story
  • "Alexa, pause" - Pause playback
  • "Alexa, resume" - Continue playing
  • "Alexa, stop" - Stop and exit

Privacy

Our Alexa skill does not collect any personal data. For full details, see our Privacy Policy.

🚦 About the Alexa Status Light

Near the top of our home page, you may see a small coloured light showing how our Alexa service is doing. Here is what the colours mean:

Green — Alexa is working. You can say “Alexa, open Hambleton Talking Newspaper” and listen as normal.

Amber — Alexa is being updated. It may not work for a little while. Please listen here on the website for now — everything is still available. It will be back to normal soon.

Red — Alexa is having a problem. It isn’t working at the moment, but you can always listen here on the website. We’ll have it fixed as soon as we can.

There is never anything you need to do — the light is just so you know what to expect. You can always listen here on this website, whatever the light shows.

📚 Archives

Access past editions of the talking newspaper:

  • Click on month names to expand/collapse sections
  • Each edition shows publication date, archive date, and number of recordings
  • Click "Play Edition" to listen to complete past editions

♿ Accessibility Features

Our website includes several accessibility features:

  • Read Page: Click the blue "Read Page" button at the top to have the page content read aloud
  • High Contrast: Switch to high contrast mode for better visibility
  • Large Text: Increase text size for easier reading
  • Keyboard Navigation: All features are accessible via keyboard (Tab, Enter, Space)
  • Screen Reader Compatible: All content is optimized for screen readers

📖 Registration

To become a listener and receive our talking newspaper:

  1. Visit the Register page
  2. Fill in your contact details and preferences
  3. Choose your preferred delivery method (USB stick, online access, etc.)
  4. Submit the form and we'll be in touch

🎙️ Reader Access

If you're a volunteer reader:

  • Visit the Reader Access page
  • Log in with your credentials
  • Upload recordings through the Reader Panel
  • View your submission history

🤝 Volunteering

Interested in becoming a volunteer reader?

  • Visit our Volunteer page
  • Learn about different volunteer roles
  • Fill in the volunteer application form
  • We'll provide training and support

💬 Need More Help?

If you can't find what you're looking for:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the service free?
A: Yes, the Hambleton Talking Newspaper is a free service for blind and visually impaired residents.

Q: How often are new editions published?
A: We publish new editions regularly. Check the Listening Room for the latest content.

Q: Can I refer someone who might benefit from this service?
A: Absolutely! Visit our Refer Someone page.