Graduate lands Assistant Producer job at BBC Newsround

By UKJournalism

A graduate has secured his ìideal jobî as Assistant Producer of Children's BBC Newsround.

Anthony Baxter will start working on the news programme in January and will spend his time finding stories for a young audience, filming and helping reporters put packages together.

He said: ìNewsround is a part of the BBC that's at the top of its game and I think I'm incredibly lucky to get a chance to become part of that team. I think there'll be lots to do and it'll be quite hectic but hopefully exciting.î

Itís Anthonyís first TV job since he graduated from UCLanís Postgraduate Broadcast Journalism course, which he describes as ìbeing instrumental in getting me startedî, in 2004. He has worked for BBC Radio Cumbria since early 2004 and says that the jump in the target audience age range is always going to be part of the job.

Huge change

ìWorking in local radio means thinking for an age range of 50 plus. It's going to be a huge change but I think the advantage is that Iíve been a seven year-old and part of the Newsround audience.î

He said the key issue to consider when presenting news to a younger audience is the ìkeep it simple.î

ìA big part of the job will be getting the balance between making sure children aren't upset by the news we report but at the same time are not kept in the dark. You've also got to consider vulnerability and a duty to protect the audience's welfare.î

Anthony spotted the job advertisement in the BBCís internal magazine a week after he had been offered some work experience at Newsround and said it was a shock to then be given the job.

He has held several positions whilst at Radio Cumbria and described it as a good place to ìcut your teeth.î Anthonyís gone from sports production to district reporting and then to producing a breakfast show and now says heís looking forward to a fresh challenge.

ìI think working in Television Centre is going to be quite exciting and there will be some star struck moments to begin with. I just want to learn as much as I can and get an insight into the world of TV.î

He added: ìThe BBC is a vast machine with endless possibilities and the most incredible opportunities. I really have no idea where and what I'll do next and I guess this is part of the charm.î

More info
MA Broadcast Journalism
PGDip Broadcast Journalism
Children's BBC Newsround

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