Victoria takes helm at 5 Live's 9am phone-in

By UKJournalism

A graduate from our Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism has become the new presenter of Radio 5 Live's 9am phone-in.

Victoria Derbyshire has switched from co-hosting the 5 Live Breakfast show to replace Julian Worricker as the solo presenter of the 9am show.

She studied the course in radio and TV journalism in 1991 and has worked her way up the broadcasting ladder via BBC Radio Coventry, BBC GMR and the Five Live Breakfast show.

But it wasnít always plain sailing. Victoria was surprised that sheíd even got onto the course at Preston, considering her minimal local radio experience. "I remember wondering how I'd got onto the course at all," she said.

Work experience

"Once I arrived at Preston so many people seemed to have had so much more work experience in local radio than me - they knew how to work Uher tape recorders, edit tape (a skill no longer necessary) etc.

"But once I'd got over that insecurity I loved the course. Most of us were paying for the course ourselves so we were very keen that the course leaders and tutors took it as seriously as we did.

"The TV part of the course was great fun, but most of us paid more attention to the radio bit because it was much more realistic to think we could get jobs in radio rather than television. 

First job

And get a job she did! Just two months after completing the course at Preston, Victoria landed her first job in the newsroom of Birmingham commercial radio station BRMB. "This was exactly the plan of course," she said.

And now that she has landed one of the most sought-after slots on radio, she reckons that her achievements are a testament to the postgraduate diplomaís preparation for a career in journalism.

"The course gave me a brilliant grounding in how to be a journalist," she said. "Not only the technical skills, but we learned about balance, impartiality, interviewing techniques, the law of libel and contempt, local government, and shorthand."

More info:
Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism >

Related stories from UKJournalism:
Anne wins contract for BBC media show >
Richard plays dream role in Euro 2004 >
Radio graduate turns guest lecturer >

See also:
Radio 5 Liveís 9am phone-in website >

Extra and related information

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