WORK EXPERIENCE

PLACEMENT AT BBC RADIO 2

(8th November - 17th November 2017)

Aims and Objectives

I never imagined that I would be chosen to complete a nine- day placement with BBC Radio 2. I could not quite believe it at first but I knew I wanted to learn and gain as much insight into BBC Radio to make my time there as worthwhile as possible. After getting the call to confirm the placement, I started researching everything I could about BBC Radio 2. From looking up the daily programme schedules to finding information that might be useful when it came to helping out with the Children In Need auctions. I tune into radio stations quite often, either in the car or through the Tune-In app on my phone and listen to a range of stations including, BBC Radio 2 anyway but I tuned into the station everyday leading up to the point of starting the placement. I familiarised myself with as many shows as I could and other aspects such as, the structure of programmes, the jingles, interview approaches and upcoming events that might be going on while I was there.

There were so many aspects of the broadcast company I wanted to know about particularly with regards to what each department does and the different journalism and broadcast roles within them. I was keen to know how a radio programme at BBC Radio 2 is put together from the morning meeting to collecting content ideas right through to broadcast. I also wanted to see how the news comes together on programmes and to understand the music business side of the industry.

Picking up contacts along the way was another important aspect for me; I knew that this was something I needed to achieve. I was prepared to communicate with as many industry professionals as I could and ask questions to show I was keen and generally interested to learn from them. I also prepared myself to take part and offer to help out wherever possible, whether that was to make cups of tea or to contribute to radio content or office work.

Outcome

My placement at BBC Radio 2 certainly met my expectations, in fact even more so. The overall experience was invaluable and I have taken so much away with me. I was involved in a lot more than I thought I would be and I did not even have to play tea girl! (Apart from when I offered).

My work experience manager Phil Hughes helped me to arrange a tailored schedule for every day that I was there. This gave me the freedom to make the best out of my time at BBC Radio 2 and to pick and choose the programmes I wanted to shadow and the people I wanted to speak too within the industry. This also helped me with the research element of my dissertation with a topic very relatable to radio broadcast and music, this included interviewing Jeff Smith, the Head of Music at BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music and Rowan Collinson, the Senior Social Media Content Producer for BBC Radio 2 and 6. I have quoted them both in my data analysis part of the dissertation.

 I also spoke to a number of useful contacts including, Pluggers, a job that I was not at all aware of beforehand, producers, BBC Radio 2 and 6 newsreader, Justine Greene and BBC Radio 2’s travel newsreader Bobby Pryer. They both talked me through their daily job routine and gave me honest and practical advice including, the experience I should be gaining now as a student and the paths I could take in order to get to where I want to get within the industry. I noted down all useful websites, software’s and contact details, which I can refer back too.

I was lucky enough to sit in on a number of radio shows, including The Jeremy Vine Show, Zoe Ball’s show, Simon Mayo’s Drivetime and Ken Bruce’s show. They were all extremely valuable to me getting to see the differences between each show and how they are put together and produced. Some of this included, how the phone- in system works for those calling into the show, right down to how the radio schedules are set out. It was also interesting to see the difference between how a community station (like Siren Radio, which I volunteer on at university) works compared to an International station like BBC Radio. This was important to me as I can apply certain aspects I learned to my own, monthly radio show Sound and County Vision.

Working on the Children In Need auctions for the Chris Evans Breakfast show every morning was very rewarding. I was involved in setting up the phone equipment at the beginning of the week and checking postcodes (known as a ‘postcode checker’) during the auctions each day. This required me to check the bidders postcodes online and call them up to check the amount was legitimately correct. I was also involved with calculating the overall money raised by the auctions and on the very last day of Children In Need, I was given the very enjoyable but heat exhausting job of dressing in the Pudsey costume to greet guests. It was great to be able to see the behind the scenes of the event and to just have the chance to be a part of the team behind it all. I really felt this helped to build my confidence too.

During the rest of my time at BBC Radio 2, I was taken on a tour to see the BBC Theatre and British Broadcasting House, which enabled me to see the television side of broadcast. I was also a studio audience member of The One Show one evening, which was a great experience getting to watch the way the studio works. I took a tube trip to the BBC Maida Vale Studios to watch an AS-live broadcast by Bob Harris. Another extremely beneficial experience for me personally, having been able to talk to Bob Harris and get his expertise in terms of presenting a country radio show.

Each day was equally as worthwhile and I made sure I organised and packed as much into the placement as I could, which I feel I achieved. I was given very positive feedback, which I was very thankful for and the most valuable piece(s) of advice I have been given is to keep building contacts, have the right skills and be confident within them. These include, editing and video skills, social media skills, writing and communication and to also keep volunteering and keeping my name known. I was told by my work experience manager and a few of the newsreaders to put my name forward for voluntary phone operating, which I have done and I have volunteered to help with next years Children In Need auctions as well. 

PLACEMENT WITH ITV CALENDAR

(19th February 2018)

I accompanied Lincolnshire reporter Kate Hemingway on two film shoots in the morning of my placement, One which was a case study in Sutton with a couple, regarding the panic alarms for independent living and the other was at the Lincolnshire County Council Headquarters. Towards the afternoon, I observed with scripting and editing of a television package up until the 6pm programme. I was able to talk to Kate’s cameraman on the day regarding filming; he gave me tips on lighting and camera angles. I also watched Kate present a live two-way with ITV Calendar’s Leeds studio. This was a very valuable experience for me, especially being able to work with Kate one to one. It was completely different compared to working at the BBC in that I’ve been able to see what it is like to work independently and for a much smaller team than compared to working alongside a big team of people at BBC Radio 2 both, which have there advantages and disadvantages.

PLACEMENT AT BBC RADIO 3 - FESTIVAL OF IDEAS, THE SAGE, NEWCASTLE

BBC Radio 3

(9th-11th March)

I was accepted to work as a volunteer at this year’s BBC Radio 3 Festival of Ideas – ‘The One and The Many’ theme along with 20 others. My typical roles included microphone handling at the discussion programmes, a backstage runner, attending to guests, a production assistant, involved with the audience engagement stands including, a creativity test, postcard questions, answering general questions and giving directions and working on the information desk, alongside other BBC staff members.

 A highlight for me was meeting British poet Holly McNish and English writer Joanna Trollope OBE and escorting her to her book-signing stand.  I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity; it was really rewarding being part of the team and completely different to my other two placements. I was able to experience both the broadcast and events side of the industry and I feel lucky to have had the chance to work alongside BBC producers, presenters, events coordinators plus artists, poets and authors.