Celebrating 20 Years: Learning Waves AGM 2024.
The Learning Waves 19th AGM was held yesterday in the Gibson Hotel, Dublin. The event served as a platform for reflection, celebration, and anticipation of Learning Waves’ future endeavors. At the event, we heard from Learning Waves board members, Teresa Hanratty, Network Manager, Patricia Monahan, Chairperson, and Michael Crawley, Treasurer.
The proceedings commenced with warm words of welcome from Patricia Monahan, the esteemed Chairperson of Learning Waves. Patricia's opening address expressed gratitude to attendees and underscored the invaluable support extended by the audience and the dedicated Learning Waves team throughout the past year.
Following Patricia's welcoming remarks, Teresa Hanratty, Network Manager, provided an overview of Learning Waves' accomplishments in 2023. Teresa’s presentation painted a vivid picture of success, highlighting external recognition received in 2023, including the Media Literacy Ireland Award for Best-Youth Led Media Literacy Intervention for the TY Media Week Programme and the Learning and Development Award for Best Development Initiative for the Journalism Graduate Programme.
Teresa also highlighted the developments of new initiatives, including the Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiative in partnership with IBI, Sustainability training in collaboration with THINKHOUSE, and forthcoming expansions in training programmes covering areas such as AI, Digital Audio Listening, and Misinformation.
Moreover, Teresa shed light on the exciting developments on the horizon for Learning Waves in 2024. Of notable significance is the three-year funding secured from Coimisiún na Meán for the TY Media Week programme. With a surge in interest demonstrated by a significant number of applications, the programme is set to make an even greater impact, empowering Transition Year students across various stations.
The AGM concluded with words from Sinéad Crowley, Head of Media Development at Coimisiún na Meán. Sinéad spoke about their partnership with Learning Waves and the benefits it has shown thus far. Speaking about online safety she said: “At the end of the day we can't have online safety without working with you in radio stations. That's why we work with programmes such as the Journalism Graduate Programme and TY Media Week Programme.” Speaking of the development of the Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiative, Sinéad said: "This is a very positive thing. This is about serving the audiences and making them feel safe. It's about making them feel like it's their radio station."
Finally, the afternoon concluded with the Graduation Ceremony for the Learning Waves 2023 Journalism Graduate Programme. Nine graduates joined the group in the afternoon to receive their certificates for completing the programme. Patricia Monahan and Sinéad Crowley gave the graduates their certificates. Additionally, 2023 was the year that the Journalism Graduate Programme Award was introduced. This award is to recognise the hard work of one of the graduates and to honor them. This was awarded to Michael Lavery, who completed the programme in LMFM, Drogheda. Judges of the award noted Michael's hard work and dedication. They said "Michael has the ideal qualities of a modern journalist." The applications for the 2024 programme remain open until the 24th of May. For more details click here.
The Learning Waves AGM served as a reminder of the organisation's unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and the continuous development of media professionals. With a legacy of achievements behind it and a future filled with promise, Learning Waves members embark on their 20th year journey with enthusiasm and determination.
To hear more about Learning Waves' journey, listen to Episode 20 of RadioTalks: Celebrating 20 Years of Learning Waves, featuring Teresa Hanratty, Michael Crawley, Fiona Stack, Bernadette Prendergast, and Patricia Monahan.