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11 October 2011

Tips for Newsroom Newbies

Yesterday I asked the question via Twitter
#Radio types: What advice would you give my LeedsTrinityPGs starting news placements today, hoping for a first break?
AbiJaiyeola from BBC Radio Leeds was first to respond:
Talk to everyone have lots of ideas and don't be shy! Make sure people will remember you for the right reason!
karlibubbles (Karli Drinkwater) is now a producer with Sky Living. She remembers all too well the struggle to get a first foot on the ladder:
Not much has changed since class 08. Grim. I had months of uncertainty & heartbreak. It takes nerves of steel.
steve70s  (Steve Wallace) is a Leeds Trinity graduate now splitting his life between Britain and the USA. His response is typically robust:
Locate the kettle, get used to opening the post, grab the freebies when you get the chance. And smile.
The need for a positive attitude is echoed by lauraharmes from the 2005 Leeds Trinity cohort, now reading bulletins for Capital FM, XFM, LBC and Classic FM in London:
Be positive, be confident without being cocky and work really hard! Make an impression. Oh and smile :)
Radio_MH_prod (Michael Hamilton) is a Leeds Trinity graduate who worked extensively in commercial radio before moving to his current role of ‘news & sport genius at the Nolan and Livesey shows on BBC Radio 5live’. He has this advice for those following in his footsteps:
Key to commercial radio journalism is the patch. Go in knowing the transmission area, issues, big stories...

...and how to pronounce the place names for when you read bulletins / do voicers.
Tim White is a former news editor of Radio Aire who now runs his own sports agency (TWMCLtd) as well as teaching broadcast journalism. He believes it’s important to make a positive impression right from the first day:
Look smart. Be proactive, ask for something else to do, don't wait to be handed a task.
Emma Blackburn (ecblackburn) is a reporter with BBC Look North. She won the BBC’s first Developing Talent Journalism Award in 2009 with a film she produced at Leeds Trinity:
Stories keep a newsroom turning, have plenty to offer&you'll make your mark. Start early leave late and enjoy!
NUJ reps @RachelBroady & @louisebolotin posting as NUJMcrSalford have a succinct message for those just starting out in the profession:
Join the NUJ. This link gives you the reasons why ...
But the last world must go to a poet, comedian and performer.

Kate Fox (katefoxwriter) is best known to listeners of BBC Radio 4 as the poet in residence on Saturday Live, and has moved on from the grubbier world of news. She urges trainees to see the big picture:
Talk to people in EVERY dept of the station. You'll bump into them all over the place in your Radio Future.
Very true. Radio is indeed a small, small world.

Thanks to all contributors; keep ‘em coming.

1 comment:

  1. Be eager, be willing, be prepared to go out and do the vox, and above everything else never ever ask me what celebrities I've interviewed. I don't work in local radio to be a part of the celeb culture. I do work in local radio to be part of my local community.

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