Student TV report aired on two national news programmes

By UK Journalism

A UCLan International Journalism studentís television news package has been aired on both BBC and Polish national news channels.

It stems from a work placement Polish British Council scholarship student Tomasz Dominiak took at BBC North West Tonight when he helped to produce a news package about the Polish community in Blackpool.

Working with the programmes Social Affairs Correspondent Dave Guest, Tomasz researched, arranged interviews and went out to interview Polish people living in Blackpool.

Home country

The three minute news report not only went out at the North West tonight programme, it was also used on BBC News 24 and Tomasz then has the idea of taking it to his home country.

He said: ìI got permission from the BBC to use some of the footage we had taken but I also went back over to Blackpool to get my own shots and do more interviews.î

After getting the go ahead from the BBC, Tomasz contacted several television news channels in Poland to pitch his story idea and national channel Telewizja Polska (TVP) was interested.

Some of Tomasz and Daveís interviewees came from a Polish night they attended at the Sanuk club in Blackpool and from the Pleasure Beach which employs many Polish workers.

Tomasz then went back with another student to find more Polish workers and re-interview a Polish veteran pilot.

He said: ìI needed to hold the interviews in Polish as it would seem strange two Polish people speaking in English for a programme on Polish television.î

The two minute news package went out a week later on TVP after Tomasz used their studios to edit his new footage. He said he was very pleased with the end result.

ìThe story going out on TVP felt like everything I had learned on my work placement had come together. Working at North West Tonight was a great experience for me and Iím glad I got as much out of it as possible.î

Tomasz has been writing for various national Polish publications for several years both before and during his Masters degree at UCLan. Though he enjoyed his television work he plans to return to print journalism, for the time being at least.

He added: ìI have a job interview at the Polish edition of Newsweek when I return to Poland and I already write for quality newspaper Dziennik that is owned by the same company. I wouldnít rule out working in television completely but I think the opportunities are endless in newspaper journalism and my year at UCLan has boosted my confidence.î

More info
MA International Journalism
BA (Hons) International Journalism
BBC North West Tonight
Telewizja Polska (TVP)

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British Council Scholarship student chooses UCLan

Extra and related information

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