Journalism students report on Vote 2017

Fri 16 June, 2017
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University of Bedfordshire Journalism students from the University’s School of Culture & Communications planned and presented an eight hour election results programme on RadioLab in conjunction with the Broadcast Journalism Training Council and in partnership with journalism students from 12 other universities.

Together they reported from counts from Cornwall to Scotland via Hampshire and Hereford, Suffolk and Sunderland, across Wales and all over Bedfordshire itself of course. They even had students reporting live from Majorca with the view of Brits abroad.

The programme Vote 2017 was planned with commendable editorial rigour and precision - and partially presented - by second year Broadcast Journalism student Ian Child.

RadioLab manager Matt Udall and Daniel Jones, mastermind of RadioLab’s most successful radio show Rock Bottom Radio, sustained most of the presenting through eight hours of live broadcasting in RadioLab’s studio whilst first year Orsolya Zsuppan played a remarkable role, co-ordinating reporters from other universities across the UK, chasing them down and patching them through live on air just as a producer would in industry.

The team were further supported by bulletin reporters and an online team in the University’s Park Square newsroom.

The collaboration was devised by Journalism Senior Lecturer Kate Ironside, a member of the BJTC’s executive board, and overseen by RadioLab Manager Terry Lee and Broadcast Journalism’s Mary Ferguson. They were also supported by Senior Lecturers Lawrie Hallett and Paul Rowinski.

The Bedfordshire students were joined on the night by the Chief Executive of the BJTC Jon Godel, who said: “The whole ethos of BJTC journalism training is students experience real industry practice as part of acquiring the digital skills that employers seek. This is a perfect opportunity to do just that.”

Vote 2017 group in the studio

Kate said: “The students did a fantastic job. They approached an extraordinary unfolding political story calmly and professionally, in an operation that mirrored that delivered simultaneously by industry.

“Terry Lee and Mary Ferguson were also pivotal in ensuring that the show not only got on the road but stayed on the road throughout the night. We could not have done it without them.”

First year Sports Journalism student Orsi Zsuppán said: "Firstly, it was a bit frightening to fulfil a role like this, but getting all that support from the Kate, Terry and Jon made the job so much easier and I think we had lots of fun after all.

"Also, the presenters were brilliant. They managed to stay focused and professional during the whole eight hours of being on air, it was a pleasure to work with them.

"I wish we could do this more often, it was such a great experience."

The School of Culture & Communications offers a range of Journalism degrees, including undergraduate degrees in Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, Sports Journalism, Magazine Journalism, Journalism & Public Relations and Creative Writing & Journalism, as well as an MA in International Journalism.

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