Steve Johnson has been working at the university as the Community Radio Tutor since January 2002. On his first day, he represented the university at a planning event for what was to become Professor Anthony Everitt’s ‘New Voices’ document. He has taken an active role in supporting the development of community radio in Wales ever since. Steve was heavily involved with the launch of Gtfm Radio, the first Community Radio station in Wales as a part of the original pilot project for the 3rd tier of broadcasting in the UK. He managed the weekday evening programming for the station, introducing a range of new programmes and volunteers from the university and wider community en route. As a part of this initiative, Steve wrote several radio modules based on developing radio skills for newcomers to the industry. These were accredited by the university and delivered at several Community radio stations throughout South Wales. He also founded the Cardiff City Phone In, the only radio show that purely focuses on CCFC and its fans. For several seasons, Steve was also the match day announcer for Cardiff City FC, commentating on matches for various radio stations and the Clubcall matchday football service.

Steve has presented every radio show on the schedule, ranging from Breakfast Shows to overnights for various radio stations, including Red Dragon FM, Valleys Radio, Bridge FM, Radio Cardiff, GTFM and BBC Radio Wales. He was one of the original presenters at Valleys Radio, broadcasting from the day of the launch. Whilst at Red Dragon FM (now Capital South Wales) he interviewed many musicians, including the Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics and Catatonia ( the radio debut for Cerys Matthews!) He was the first Programming Manager at Bridge FM and was involved with the launch of the station. Whilst there, as well as presenting his daily show, he oversaw the music policy, maintained the station sound and had responsibility for the station playlist. He was also responsible for all output, planning the schedule and meeting with presenters to discuss ideas, promotions and where necessary, disciplinary and contractual affairs. He also provided live sports commentaries and reports, was Head of News and Commercial Production.

Steve collaborates with a range of academic colleagues, to produce the ‘Loose Goose Radio Show’ and ‘Creatrium’ podcasts from the USW radio studios.

PREVIOUS POSTS

2000 – 2002

Programming Manager, Bridge FM

1998-2000

Lecturer in Radio Production at Coleg Glan Hafren.

1996-1998.

Radio presenter, Valleys Radio

1994-1996

Radio presenter, BBC Radio Wales

1988 – 1994

Radio presenter, Red Dragon FM

Radio Subject Leader, University of Glamorgan
Senior Lecturer in Media.
Community Radio Tutor
Producer of live radio programming from the Atrium

Steve co-wrote an analysis with Dr David Barlow of: Finding a voice:Role, sustainability and practice, a one day symposium which took place at the University of Glamorgan on May 1, 2008. The report was published in The Radio Journal: International Studies in Broadcast & Audio Media 6.2 & 3. Intellect, Bristol (2008). He delivered a presentation on a similar theme as part of the one day international colloquium on community media Finding and Funding Voices: the inner city experience at the London Metropolitan University on 17 September, 2007.

In 2009, his knowledge of Welsh community radio was also utilised by Peter Lewis for his paper on the development of European Community Radio, presented in Budapest.

Again focusing on community radio in Wales, Steve co-wrote a chapter for Radio in Small Nations (2015) with Dr Philip Mitchell http://www.uwp.co.uk/book/radio-in-small-nations-hardback/. He continues to collaborate with Dr Mitchell and other academics on research into radio in Wales.

Later that same year, Steve responded, on behalf of the USW, to the Institute of Welsh Affairs (IWA) Wales Media Audit (2015) regarding matters pertaining to radio in Wales. http://www.iwa.wales/click/2015/11/potential-for-radio-in-wales/.

Immediately following graduating with an MA by research in 2016, Steve was able to securepublication of an article, based on that research,in the prestigious, Australian, 3CMedia journal, https://www.cbaa.org.au/article/community-radio-wales-new-voices-welsh-accent.

In 2018, Steve was asked to respond, on behalf of the university, to the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee about radio in Wales, http://www.senedd.assembly.wales/documents/s73551/RADIO03-University of South Wales.pdf. As a consequence of submitting that report, he was subsequently invited to speak at the Senedd, appearing live on Senedd TV for the USW:
http://drama.research.southwales.ac.uk/news/en/2018/apr/12/steve-johnson-gave-evidence-culture-welsh-language/. A summary of the investigation was subsequently distributed in the Welsh media, https://seneddresearch.blog/2018/04/25/radio-in-wales-is-community-radio-the-answer/.

Steve continues his research into issues surrounding sustainability and longevity for Community Radio stations in Wales. This has led to him analysing the various radio station histories and approaches to the medium.

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Radio studio use, presentation, production and programming.
Audio recording and storytelling.
Digital editing and sound design.
Podcasting.
Community radio in Wales.

Steve remains actively engaged in researching methods of sustainability for the Welsh Community Radio Stations. In 2011, as a result of a Strategic Initiative Partnership with the Welsh Government in 2011, he collaborated with Hywel Wiliam (then Head of Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Wales) to launch the Wales Community Radio Network, the first of its kind in Wales, set up by the (then) University of Glamorgan to help community radio stations to thrive, http://news.glam.ac.uk/news/en/2011/nov/18/first-wales-online-network-helps-community-radio-s/