Advanced Journalism Apprentice Review

The apprenticeship involves a series of placements across departments in BBC News. My first was on the UK newsdesk, where I developed a comprehensive understanding of how news gets on air in broadcast journalism. During my time with the team, I worked both on the desk and out in the field, helping to bring breaking news to our audience. My main responsibilities included: • Monitoring wires from our agency partners and colleagues from across the world to ensure breaking stories are reported as quickly as possible. • Managing relationships with our broadcast pool partners by distributing and receiving shared footage transparently. • Liaising with correspondents to arrange lives for television and radio outlets, whilst managing high demand for particularly big stories. Booking satellite links to link up correspondents with the relevant studio. • Working closely with colleagues on the News Channel and the News at One, Six and Ten to source incoming feeds and highlight stories they may not have noticed. • Working with senior editorial colleagues to plan news coverage. Solving practical issues like where a correspondent should go to cover a storm, liaising with other teams across the organisation to understand their requirements and booking camera crews. • Going out on the road as a field producer to gather content: Asking questions to people in the news - a doorstep - to get their response to a story, which often involves a lot of patience standing around in the cold. Covering major press conferences. I've reported from New Scotland Yard and the Pakistan High Commission, the COVID-19 and Dawn Sturgess inquiries as well as the farmer inheritance tax protest in Whitehall. I use the PNg (portable newsgathering) app to record, edit and send media to the newsroom. I also ensure correspondents can do their job with as few distractions as possible by acting as a contact point for them, checking scripts and adding any knowledge whilst ensuring they are safe.

BBC academy training has consistently take me out of my comfort zone. For instance, I have received training on how to report stories for radio and TV platforms. This included how to script what you are going to say and how to look and sound natural in front of a camera. This was tested with a live exercise by an experienced colleague.

The BBC has been training journalists for decades and it shows. The programme has been carefully designed to ensure we get a broad range of experience and skills.

I have support from two apprenticeship scheme managers, my line manager and peer mentors. Our mental health and wellbeing has been a priority throughout.

The University of Kent has a Ofcom regulated TV station which has been invaluable in getting experience in elements of the job that I wouldn't otherwise be able to in a national newsroom.

My cohort of apprentices have developed a close bond having spent a lot of time together. There are also social opportunities run by the wider BBC apprenticeship community.

Yes

There is a lot of opportunity in the organisation and the training is first-class.

Think about ways the BBC can improve and better serve its audience.