RADIO.
George's passion for broadcasting began at a young age and developed throughout his time at Edinburgh Napier Unviersity where, with generous assistance and support from Head Technician Iain MacKay and other members of the university, he launched Radio ENRG (Edinburgh Napier Radio Group) to create a platform for ‘talk, tunes, tales and talent’ – essentially, the news, music and experiences of staff and students.
George launched Radio ENRG on 18th November 2013 to give budding multimedia journalists, presenters and students from all disciplines the opportunity to enhance their broadcast skills by actively producing and presenting content. This was accomplished by the end of the first academic year, with over 20 shows launched and over 100 episodes aired. Over ten years later, Radio ENRG continues to thrive - scroll down for more.
Image courtesy of Allan Shedlock
RADIO ENRG
George with Radio ENRG 2014-16 Managers & Presenters Cassie Burke and Rebecca Barrett
Image courtesy of Allan Shedlock
George produced and presented two of his own regular shows during the 2013/14 term. ‘George Ward’s Smorgasbord’ was an eccentric format with a variety of segments including ‘Ward’s Drawer’, ‘What the Phhhhhhhobia?!’, ‘The Telephone Box’, ‘Versus’ and a horrendous ‘Starting Pun’ joke with appropriate tumbleweed.
The other show, ‘ENRGize’, became known as ‘the show for all things Edinburgh Napier’, with its aim to showcase talent from within the university, along with news and upcoming events linked to the sports teams and societies. Interviews became an integral part of the station’s output, and George thoroughly enjoyed meeting and interviewing people from all walks of life and giving emerging local musicians a chance to promote their work.
The term culminated with a 36-hour Radio ENRG ‘Charity Broadcast Bonanza’, promoted as #enrgcbb on Twitter, which raised just under £300 for Alzheimer Scotland and Edinburgh Young Carers Project. Produced and presented by George and Liam Hope from ‘Rock Block’, they interviewed spokespersons from the two charities and an array of listeners, musicians and other individuals throughout the marathon broadcast while raising funds for two worthy causes.
George went on to win 'Best Newcomer' at the Student Radio Awards 2014; more info can be found on the ABOUT page.
George presenting at the Radio ENRG 10th Birthday Bonanza
Image courtesy of Maxime Ragni
10 YEARS OF RADIO ENRG
George returned to Edinburgh Napier University on 17th November 2023 to co-produce and present a '10th Birthday Bonanza' broadcast to celebrate a decade of the ENRG platform which has expanded enormously.
Particular thanks were given to those who helped to get the station off the ground and for its continued success, including Kate Smith, Iain Mackay, Allan Boughey, James Blake, Diane MacLean, Simon Pia, Carolyn Scott, Laurie Bowman and the current and former presenters, managers and Edinburgh Napier University staff and students who have been involved. The memorable evening was organised by Morven Skirving & Miia MacDougall from the Edinburgh Napier Alumni team.
George winning Best Newcomer (Gold) at the Student Radio Awards 2014
auDIO.
George has conducted multiple audio interviews for Podium.Me, the responses of which featured in podcasts on www.podium.me, a platform for the UK's under-25s to share their views on a vast array of topics. Some content from the site is also broadcast on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 4.
George interviewed a number of radio stars at the ARIAS 2018 which can be heard via the links throughout this article here.
CONTACT.
For Presenting, Voiceover, Event Hosting and General Enquiries, please send a message via the CONTACT page.