It's good morning from South Africa

By UKJournalism

Broadcast journalism lecturer Andrew Edwards is taking a weekís break from Preston to present his radio show from Durban in South Africa. 

Andrew works part-time in the department teaching radio. For the last ten years he has presented the breakfast programme at BBC Radio Leeds. 

Andrew said: "Weíre hoping to focus on the same sort of issues we talk about at home ñ health, education, jobs, sport, entertainment ñ but from a South African perspective. 

"Iíd also like to get a flavour of what daily life is like in Durban. The city is twinned with Leeds, but how much do they really have in common?"

Global issues

The visit, in early July, is linked to a series of programmes across the BBC marking Britainís presidency of the G8 group of the worldís richest nations. The leaders will discuss global issues such as poverty.

"Durban is a prosperous holiday city on the Indian Ocean. But next to it is the township of Umlazi, with a population ñ like Leeds ñ of about three quarters of a million. Poverty and AIDS are big problems," explained Andrew. 

"Weíre hoping to use hi-tech equipment to broadcast live from places like a community centre or school, rather than staying in the studio."

New York

This will not be the first time that Andrew Edwards has broadcast from abroad. In 1998 he co-presented the breakfast show from the BBCís Broadway studios the morning after running the New York Marathon.

He also followed Leeds United to Valencia in their quest for European football glory. "Iím really looking forward to the trip. Iíve never been to Africa before. I even get a lie-in. Theyíre a couple of hours ahead of us!"

Andrew Edwards will be back in Lancashire in time to see his radio students graduate from their BA (Hons) Journalism course on July 12.

More info:
BA (Hons) Journalism >
Postgraduate Diploma Broadcast Journalism >
Masters Broadcast Journalism >

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See also:
BBC Radio Leeds >

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