Graduate to pilot BBC scheme

By UK Journalism

A journalism graduate has been chosen to pilot a new BBC scheme developing the presence of the North West Tonight news programme on the web.

James Bentley will work on a new website dedicated to the show by editing and uploading news packages, extended interviews and archive footage. He is the only person in the region to be given this job role for the BBC that will initially run for four months.

He said: ìIt is fantastic to be working at the BBC and something I never imagined I would be doing.î

James was offered the job after spending the last 18 months writing unpaid for the BBC Manchester ìWhere I liveî website that included single-handedly covering the Manchester comedy festival.

Overwhelmed

ìThe editor of BBC Manchester ëWhere I Liveí told me he was overwhelmed by my coverage of the festivalî he said.

The new North West Tonight website will be rolled out in January and James has been spending his time getting to know the members of the news team and learning how to operate the new kit.

ìIím being trained in how to use the equipment and am making myself known to everyone so that when I come to ask them for content to upload onto the new site they know who I am and what Iím doing.î

James will edit interviews that may only be 30 seconds long on the television programme but will be shown in full on the website. He said he is also excited about working with the North West film archive.

ìIíll be able to put old footage up on the site and for example show what a news programme was like in the 1970ís.î

James left UCLan with a BA (Hons) Journalism degree in 2005 after taking the online route in his final year. He has since worked for the University of Manchesterís web team and is open to what direction his career will head in.

He added: ìI still intend on writing reviews and features for the ëWhere I Liveí website because I really enjoy it and Iíll just see where else my new job will lead in the future.î

More info
BA (Hons) Journalism
MA Online Journalism
North West Tonight

Related news
Single-handedly covering the Manchester Comedy Festival

Extra and related information

Our print and broadcast courses are accredited by the The Broadcast Journalism Training Council and the National Council for the Training of Journalists. Our MA Magazine Journalism is accredited by the Periodicals Training Council.