Published on a Wednesday our volunteers aim to provide the Bishopbriggs / Kirkintilloch Herald Talking Newspaper the same day.
Low-income Broadband Deals
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If you are concerned that you can't access our online service because you are on a low income. You might want to take a look at Max Beckett, Broadband expert, 11 July 2025 article on U Switch, which suggests that reduced rates are available for those on low incomes.
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Daily Listening Options
There are several ways to listen to our service each day. The British Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF), in partnership with the Talking Newspaper Federation, previously helped bring together over 250 titles, including those produced by Cue and Review.
Although the BWBF mobile phone app will be decommissioned from 1 August, the Alexa service will now be managed by the Talking Newspaper Federation
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Our services are fully accessible to blind and partially sighted people, allowing you to hear the news the same day our volunteer readers record it.
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Weekly Compilations
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Not interested in listening to the daily recordings provided by Cue and Review Print Speaking to the Blind? If you only have time to listen to 90 minutes of news each week, why not sign up for one of the ways of accessing the service weekly
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YouTube
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Apple ​
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USB stick mailed to your home
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Download our weekly podcasts from Dropbox
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Online Players
The following links will take you directly to the latest stream of the Bishopbriggs Kirkintilloch Herald title. You will find there is a picture link and a button link to make it easier for reader software. If you then listen on a computer or on your mobile phone you will need to press the play button on the player or use the fast forward or rewind buttons when the new page opens.
How to Listen to Talking Newspapers on Your Mobile Phone Using Alexa
Even without the BWBF app (which is being decommissioned from August 1, 2025), you can still access Talking Newspapers — including Cue and Review titles — using the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet.
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What You’ll Need
A smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android)
The Alexa app (free from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store)
An Amazon account (free to create)
Step-by-Step Setup
1. Install the Alexa App
Download and install the Amazon Alexa app from your app store.
Sign in with your Amazon account.
2. Enable the Talking Newspapers Skill
Open the Alexa app.
Tap More → Skills & Games → Search for “Talking Newspapers”
Tap Enable to Use
Alternatively, you can say:
“Alexa, enable Talking Newspapers”
How to Listen
Once the skill is enabled, just say:
“Alexa, open Talking Newspapers”
Then say the title you want to hear, for example:
“Play Kirkintilloch Herald”
Playback Commands
You can also say:
“Next” – to skip to the next item
“Previous” – to go back
“Pause”, “Resume”, or “Stop”
“Loop” – to repeat the current item
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Accessibility Support
The Alexa app works with:
VoiceOver (iOS)
TalkBack (Android)
Siri or Google Assistant to launch Alexa hands-free
Accessing Talking Newspapers with Alexa:
A step-by-step guide
Here’s our quick step guide to getting started with Talking Newspapers on Alexa, using your smartphone or a smart speaker.
1.If you’re using a phone, get the Alexa app
If you’re using a phone, first, check whether you already have the Alexa App. If you’re unsure just search your phone for ‘Alexa’.
If you don’t have Alexa installed, search and download it from the App Store (iOS users) or Play Store for (Android users).
You can also listen via an Alexa device such as an Echo Dot, Echo Pop or Echo Show Smart Speaker. To start, just ensure that the device fully set up, connected to the internet and ready to go.
2.Add the Talking Newspaper Skill to Alexa
Now you have Alexa ready to go on your phone or Echo device, you can enable Talking Newspapers.
If you’re using a phone, open the Alexa app and select:
More > Skills and Games > Search > Talking Newspapers > Enable
If you’re using a smart speaker, such as an Amazon Echo device, simply say:
‘Alexa enable Talking Newspapers’
Then, follow the prompts given by Alexa, until confirmation is provided that the skill has been enabled.
3.Start using the Talking Newspaper Skill
Alexa is designed to respond to voice commands you give it. This will also work alongside Siri or Hey Google, as well as with VoiceOver or TalkBack on or off.
On your phone or tablet follow these instructions:
Say ‘Hey Siri’ or ‘Hey Google open the Alexa App’.
If you’re using VoiceOver or TalkBack, the app will announce ‘Alexa Home’ when it opens.
Then you just need to say ‘Alexa, open Talking Newspapers’.
For smart speaker users, just make sure your speaker is on and ready and say ‘Alexa, open Talking Newspapers’ to get started.
4.Listening for the first time
If it’s the first time you’ve listened to Talking Newspapers with Alexa, or if you haven’t done so for a long time, you will hear a standard welcome message. This will vary as the skill gets more used to you.
The user will then be asked for a Talking Newspaper name or the name of a town or city in the UK. Just say:
‘Alexa, ask Talking Newspaper for Cue and Review The National’, ‘Alexa, ask Talking Newspaper for Cue and Review The Herald’, ‘Alexa, ask Talking Newspaper for Cue and Review Evening Times’, or ‘Alexa, ask Talking Newspaper for Kirkintilloch Herald’
This will immediately play the talking newspaper selected.
If, having listened to a newspaper, you return in any 24-hour period, Alexa will ask if you want to carry on listening, just say ‘yes’ to carry on, or ‘no’ to browse others.
5.Regular listening
If you listen to a newspaper regularly, the skill will start to recognise this. Alexa will say ‘Welcome back to Talking Newspapers I can see that you have been enjoying listening to [newspaper name]. Do you want to listen to this newspaper?’
You can simply say ‘yes’ to play or ‘no’ to browse others.
6.Navigating through audio in the Talking Newspaper Skill
Once you’re listening to Talking Newspapers with Alexa, it’s easy to skip through content as you please.
If the publication you’re listening to has more than one track, say ‘Alexa, next track’ or ‘Alexa, previous track’ to move between tracks.
To fast forward or rewind, say ‘Alexa, ask Talking Newspaper to forward/rewind [number] seconds.’
Pause, stop or play whilst listening to any publication, by saying ‘Alexa, pause’, ‘Alexa, stop’ or ‘Alexa, play’.
7.Closing the app
To stop listening to Talking Newspapers via Alexa, just say ‘Alexa, cancel.’
Need help?
We’re here to ensure that everyone using the Speech Talking Newspaper service can continue to access this support. If you’re need help moving from the Speech Talking Newspaper app to listening with Alexa, please contact alexa@tnf.org.uk who will be able to support you to make the switch.
Listen on YouTube​
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Not interested in listening to the daily recordings provided by Cue and Review Print Speaking to the Blind? If you only have time to listen to 90 minutes of news each week, why not sign up to our YouTube service available as a weekly digest of the Bishopbriggs Kirkintilloch Herald.
It’s easy the latest edition will appear here below or even simpler go to our playlist and follow there
Weekly USB Stick digests​
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Although this is the slowest way to access your news we are aware that for many people getting the paper on a USB stick posted in a yellow padded postal wallet is the way that they have always liked it. Since March 2022 we have brought back this service now that it is safer to do so.
Listeners will currently be sent two editions before we will stop if they don't return their wallet and stick. Ideally, listeners would post everything back weekly.
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If you have someone who can add the audio onto a stick for you you can now also visit our public Dropbox folder where they can add the audio direct for you
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Listener Membership Form
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The above button to sign up to our mailing list is optional, however, it does mean that we have an idea of who is listening and which format they are listening on. In turn, this helps us access funding which ensures the service remains free to our listeners. Rather than leaving the website to fill out the form, it is also repeated here
Read from Your Home
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At present, you can only read the Bishopbriggs / Kirkintilloch Herald for us if you live in the local area and can buy a copy from a local shop. If you can't do this you are welcome to read for another title. If you have access to a laptop and a simple microphone drop us an email.
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Support for Sensory Impairment Workers in Scottish Local Authorities
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At Cue and Review, we could work alongside you to improve access to information and reduce isolation for people with visual impairments in your area. We can help you explore ways to offer audio versions of local newspapers, council updates, and community information through smart speakers, mobile apps, and postal USB services. We could also support you in developing welcome packs, training opportunities, and personalised resources to connect clients with local services and support groups. If you're seeking funding or looking to raise awareness, we’d be happy to collaborate on applications and campaigns that highlight the impact of your work. Together, we can build more inclusive, accessible services that meet the needs of your community.
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Cue and Review's office
0141-772-3976 we can't always be there to answer our phones which is why we now have a 24/7 recorded information line and answering service.
When you call Cue and Review Recording Service, you’ll hear a recorded message explaining our services and how to get in touch with the right person. As a small charity supported by volunteers and part-time staff, we’re often busy recording in the studio or working remotely, so we’re not always able to answer the phone directly. However, your call is important to us. If you leave your name, contact number, and a brief message, it will be forwarded to the relevant team member who will get back to you as soon as possible. You can also find more information or contact us via cueandreview.com or our Facebook page. ​​