Welcome to the Academy

Hello and welcome to our new website!

This is where we'll give you the latest Academy news, with snapshots of what we're doing from day to day, and explain our broader plans.

We want - of course - to show you the work we're most proud of. But we also want to hear what you think of the site and what should be on it. We want it to be as useful as possible, and to grow over time.

It will give you news about our latest innovations, because here at the BBC Academy we are frequently updating the training we offer, aiming to anticipate the future in this fast-moving industry. Two examples would be the upcoming Fast Train event for freelancers, and the launch of our advice on audibility from some of the best experts in the business.

It's also a portal, a way into the Academy's online resources.

There is the well-established College of Journalism site, which has thousands of pages and hundreds of short films, from Huw Edwards on writing headlines for tv news programmes to advice on the essentials of ethical journalism.

Then there's our new baby, the College of Production site launched in February. It's growing fast, with around a hundred short films already.

There'll also be news from the other two Academy centres, the College of Leadership, and the Centre of Technology.

The Academy web presence is a learning resource. We want everyone, whether you're a wizened veteran or a bright-eyed trainee, to find it helpful. It's all there, ready to be used, when and where you want it.

The journey that you take through this rich learning resource is entirely up to you. Albert Einstein would approve: "I never teach my pupils, I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn."

For decades the BBC has been British broadcasting's leading trainer. Now we want to share that depth of experience with the world, and to keep innovating so that our training is relevant to today's and tomorrow's needs.

In the YouTube age, it's training that distinguishes the pro from the amateur. In the future of broadcasting, you'll have to keep developing your skills or be left behind. The sites will change and grow just like the industry, so they'll be worth revisiting.

We want this site to fit around you. It's there for the early bird or the night owl: you can reach the websites any hour of the day, at home or on location. And in this world where everybody expects you to be an expert, you can increase or refresh your knowledge, quietly on your own, without always having to ask the embarrassing question out loud!

Of course not everything can be done online. But perhaps visiting the Academy's websites will inspire you to have some face-to-face training. This is available from a wide range of commercial providers as well as the Academy itself.

If you want to book courses you can visit www.bbccademy.com or reach other providers through Skillset www.skillset.org. If you'd like to stay in regular touch with us, or want to comment, email us at academyupdates@bbc.co.uk