I watched the BBC World Service every day when I was a teenager, hoping to improve my English listening skills. I was impressed with the professionalism of the BBC reporters and I dreamed of becoming one of them.
Visiting the BBC
You can imagine my excitement when I heard that we were going to visit BBC Coventry and Warwickshire radio with my journalism class. I have to admit that my bold plans of becoming a Polish correspondent have faded with time, but my fondness of the BBC remains.
On our arrival, we met June who spoke about the history of the station and answered our questions. It was particularly fascinating to hear the about everyday functioning of the radio and the number of people working behind the scenes.
What is the career really like?
Meeting with the BBC morning presenter Shane O’Connor helped me understand the complexity of a radio presenter’s role. I learned about studio equipment and the importance of time keeping in broadcasting. I also observed Annie Othen presenting her afternoon programme, which gave me a practical insight into radio work. We asked Shane if he could ever relax at work. He remarked that presenting is like driving a car; the more you practice, the less you think about the things involved.
The back office was bustling with work, yet the journalists were happy to pause and talk to us about their roles. They encouraged us to ask questions and take photos. I was surprised with the fast pace of work and short time journalists had to produce their stories. We were also lucky to meet the BBC TV crew. I learned about the work of a TV reporter from behind the scenes and I realized how passionate everybody was about the news.
The inside story
The crew shared their views on journalist-press officer relations with us. It was interesting to hear that reporters did not like relying on press releases. Journalists should investigate the issue further expecting that there is more to the story than the press releases say.
Press officers, on the other hand, need to ensure that they are ready to answer questions in a timely manner if they want their story to be published. “Today’s news is tomorrow’s fish and chip paper,” as the saying goes.
The BBC visit revived my aspirations of becoming a journalist. It was a motivating experience and a good practical insight into the theory that we study in class.
What trips have you been on which have boosted your career? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo: Maki Yoshino
Media & Communications graduate and freelance journalist.
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