GCSE pupils learn about broadcast journalism

By UK Journalism

Potential journalists of the future have visited UCLan to learn about broadcast journalism.

16 year 10 pupils from Pleckgate High School in Blackburn visited the Journalism Department as part of their GCSE Media studies course.

They all recorded a two minute local news bulletin in the radio studio and found out what makes a story news worthy and how to decide the running order of a bulletin.

Practical

The Head of Media at Pleckgate, Dave Hunt, said: ìWe have never done anything like this before and all of the students are excited about visiting the department and seeing what they have been taught being put into practice. It is a good way of developing confidence and allows the pupils to see what itís like to work to deadline under pressure.î

15-year-old Matthew Brown said: ìIím nervous about going into the studio and reading out my bulletin but also excited because itís something I have never done before. I would consider studying journalism after school.î

Another student, Simone Khan, said: ìIt is great to see a proper radio studio and be able to read a news bulletin. I found it hard to get my timing right but it was really useful to experience what itís actually like to read the news.î

The project was lead by Greg Dean who is training to be a teacher and has previously worked as a journalist for X FM and Century FM in Manchester.

He said: ìAll of the pupils enjoyed the exercise and got a lot out of it. They put in the maximum effort and some showed the kind of potential that may see them one day return to the department to study journalism.î

More info
MA Broadcast Journalism
PGDip Broadcast Journalism
Pleckgate High School

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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.