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Thursday, August 16, 2007
A whole different level
This time every year the A Level exam results are out... and this time every year, the breakfast shows wheel out a couple of cherry-picked students to open their results live on air. And every year they get straight A-grades. Not suprising really, given that the whole thing relies on their colleges making their results available early.
Well, not on my watch. I made the decision several months ago not to do that on the BBC Radio Swindon breakfast show this year. Not only is it predictable, but it isn't real (and I speak as someone who flunked my A-Level History and only got into my first choice University thanks to a generous admissions tutor). So, instead, we found ourselves a 19 year-old who was retaking her exams after a disappointing set of grades last year- and for whom this was really a last stab at going to University. Our radiocar reporter spent the show at her house - capturing all the tension of the most important morning of her life. No slick choreography - and not a results envelope in sight. Just a slice of real life. And the story that unfolded after the show - when she eventually got her results - is utterly compelling. She missed the grades again - and had to make some big decisions very quickly. So we've got a great story for tomorrow now, too. Labels: Exams, Journalism, Radio
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Friday, June 01, 2007
Remembering Bob Atkins
 I'd like to say a few words in memory of Bob Atkins, my Journalism tutor at Cardiff University, who sadly died suddenly but peacefully this week. Bob was a true legend in his field - with a CV that includes some of the most important TV and radio programmes of our time. He worked on That's Life for BBC TV, and PM and The World At One for BBC Radio 4. He was an Executive Producer at the BBC World Service, and Editor of BBC Radio Wales. But the reason I knew Bob is because he dedicated the last fifteen years of his life to teaching the Broadcast Journalists of the future at Cardiff University's School of Journalism. He helped me - and half the industry - learn the trade, and find a job in one of the most competitive professions around. And he did so with the greatest wisdom, intelligence and passion. The thing I'll always remember Bob for is his complete and utter intolerance of mediocrity - in the best possible sense. Never one to mince his words, it was Bob's frank criticism of my early efforts that made me employable. But Bob's harsh words never made myself - or anyone else who knew him - love him or respect him any less. We always knew he was doing it to bring out the best in us - and we could always rely on him for all the support and reassurance we needed. The fact is, Bob, you never fooled any of us for one minute. We all knew you were a warm, kind and wonderful person, and we love you for it. Labels: Bob Atkins, Journalism
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Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Making Panorama out of a crisis
If you haven't seen last night's edition of Panorama - which investigates Scientology - it's well worth taking a look. Thoroughly interesting viewing, especially after the Scientologists released a video of reporter John Sweeney 'losing it'. The incident was included in the final programme.
Subject matter apart, the programme's raised some really interesting issues about journalism and editorial accountability.
Labels: Journalism, Panorama, TV
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