Third year passes BBC GMR interview test

By UKJournalism

Third year radio student Joanne Smith has been offered a weekís work experience at BBC GMR after being given a "job" following a day of mock interviews.

Students on the radio route of the BA (Hons) Journalism course and on the Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism were invited to apply for the post of broadcast journalist at a BBC radio station in the North West. 

Six were shortlisted and each had a half hour interview with GMRís News Editor Mark Elliott and radio lecturer Andrew Edwards.

Straightforward

Andrew said: "Itís fairly straightforward to teach the basic journalistic skills, but getting practical experience of job interviews is far harder to arrange. Again and again students were asking if there was some way we could put them on their toes in an interview situation."

Andrew, who teaches in the Department part-time, also presents the BBC Radio Leeds breakfast show. "I know what a daunting experience it can be going through a BBC board ñ the Beebís word for an interview panel," he said.

"With these dummy interviews we can ask the sort of questions which are likely to feature when a real jobís on the line."

Delighted

Mark Elliott, who visits the Department regularly as a guest editor for radio newsdays, was delighted to help out: "Itís good for us ñ we get an idea of the talent thatís out there, he said.

"Andrew and I tried to cover the sort of legal and ethical issues which crop up in every newsroom, but itís always important to learn about someoneís personality and creativity.

"How quick are they at thinking on their feet? What would they be like as a colleague alongside you at five on a wet winterís morning?î

Feedback

The students were given feedback, jointly and individually, at the end of the day. Two were told they were suitable for the job but Jo, from Keighley in West Yorkshire, was offered the fictitious post

"I know it wasnít for real, but now that my course has finished Iím out there looking for a job," she said.

"This was a great way to prepare. We all took it seriously, putting together strong application forms and wearing our smart suits. I was very nervous and even though Andrew was my tutor and Mark had worked with us before, it felt very different to be in the firing line!"

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

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Radio graduate wins Gold Sony Award >
Pete launches his career at The Rocket >
It's good morning from South Africa >
Third year lands plum job on PA sports desk >

See also:
BBC GMR >

Extra and related information

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