10 things I would do if I were a researcher/multimedia assistant for BBC Radio 4

As a regular listener of the current affairs and comedy output of Radio Four (along with the rest of my family) I've been thinking about the station's interactivity.

BBC Listen Again, like the iplayer, is excellent. Unlike 4OnDemand, it requires no downloads and therefore can be used from any machine. I can use the iplayer while writing a blog post in the university library. I can't do that with 4OnDemand.

However, Radio Four needs to engage more with the blogosphere. The blogosphere will publicise programs for free- by writing about them on their blogs, which others can read and pass on. Blogs also allow the sharing of pictures and video, which radio cannot do. These blogs will be linked to by non-BBC blogs, which will increase the global awareness of BBC Radio 4.

Here are 10 things I would do if I were a researcher for BBC Radio 4.

1. I would create a blog for each Radio 4 programme, and would be able to teach presenters and producers how to write for the web and search engine optimisation.

2. The only blog that Radio 4 currently has, for PM, is not linked to PM's iplayer output. I would place a link to each blog under above the discussion board link on the "Now Playing" section.

3. Each edition of the BBC in-house magazine Ariel should have a column entitled "From the Blogosphere" where a staff member discuss the reactions to the BBC on both BBC and non-BBC blogs. I would be able to write this column as well as other duties.

4. Blog posts that are pertinent to a news story could be linked in current BBC blogs like the Editor's Blog. This would involve me keeping BBC Online staff informed about the content of the BBC Radio blogs via e-mail.

5. It's important to monitor the blogosphere. I would recommend that one staff member spends an hour each day finding out what other blogs have said about recent radio shows and BBC blogs.

6. I would make sure that the BBC blogs would allow people to receive posts by e-mail and use an RSS reader to follow the blog.

7. I would make sure that every BBC employee has a Google Reader full of blogs and news sites relevant to the area they are working in that they understand how to use.

8. I would film and upload a short video to Youtube explaining these changes, which bloggers could link to.

9. PM's blog is currently not mentioned on the programme. I would ask each presenter to mention their show's blog once per programme.

10. I would show any interested BBC staff how to set up their own blog using a Wordpress or Blogger template, enabling them to understand the mindset of a blogger.