BBC Northern Ireland Trainee Scheme
Case studies
We acknowledge that with a scheme such as this, it is interesting to read about the progress of other trainees who have followed similar programmes.
The profiles below summarise some of their journeys so far.
Click on a name to find out more:
John Anthony - Broadcast Operator
John had always wanted to be a film maker but felt he needed the technical skills to enable him to do so. His Film and Video degree and work experience in Production helped him to join the BBC NI Technical Trainee Scheme where he specialised in Cameras and Graphics. Outside of work he had worked in a camera shop, started a videos business for a nightclub in addition to helping a friend make a film. He has always been interested in the visual side of production.
More recently he has done a placement as an Assistant Producer on ' Inside Out' where he could take ideas and make them work in consultation with the Producer. One of the striking features about John was his commitment to get on and the amount of his own time he has given up to shadowing people and learning new skills. This does seem to have paid off in that he has been chosen to go to New York to film 10 Northern Irish bands and this was due to the fact he can multi-task; shooting and editing himself and working as part of a team of just two.
back to top ^
Linda Smith – Director, The Culture Show
Linda Smith joined the production trainee scheme in NI in 2001 and came to her present role through work as a local Assistant Producer for BBC NI then as a Director making 40 min documentaries. The following is in her own words:
"When I arrived at the BBC, I had previously worked as a researcher and was used to scripting and sourcing contributors, however I had never picked up a camera or worked in an edit suite. The amazing thing about the BBC NI training scheme was that you were thrown right into the deep end. In terms of television,I was out there making 2-3 min films within 2 weeks of arriving in TV. These films were of course mentored and heavily supervised but just to be out there doing it - there's nothing like actually having to do it for yourself.
From there I made longer more polemic and scripted films, worked with presenters, learned to self shoot on the job and even cut a basic piece on an edit suite. Doing all these different aspects of the job - specifically filming and editing gave me an insight into other sides of the how a film is put together, which in turn game me more appreciation for what the 'real' camera operators and editors were doing. When I came to make long form documentaries it was and is important to work with a professional camera operator and editor as you can't do such a big job all yourself but it is important to get an insight into the whole production process."
back to top ^
Elizabeth Rice – Senior Producer, Radio
Elizabeth took a journalism diploma after school and following a stint at a newspaper joined the BBC as a part-time temporary typist in the newsroom. After a short time there she worked variously as researcher, reporter and finally as a radio producer where she has been for the last 23 years. Her work involves making all sorts of speech based programmes across different genres but specialising particularly in Natural History.
Like most radio producers, she can work equally well on her own or as part of a team, depending on the nature of the programme. Like all radio producers, she does everything herself - generating ideas, research, finding contributors, recording, mixing sound, editing and even getting the tea! The only thing she is not too keen on is actual presenting. Radio she sees as the Senior Service, allowing people's imagination to work overtime. Creating a piece of radio that takes the listener to another place is her idea of a successful programme. In January of this year, in keeping with her strong interest in developing others, she became a Production Training Advisor and will act as a mentor for the trainees on this scheme.
back to top ^
Seamus Boyd – Editor, News Online
Seamus joined the BBC as a Broadcast Journalist having previously been Business Editor of the Irish News. Since joining the BBC 11 years ago, he has worked across a variety of radio and television roles and is now editor of News Interactive in Northern Ireland. Among the challenges faced in the past year have been moving the News website's focus towards more original stories and decreasing its dependency on radio news. He's also been instrumental in identifying skills' gaps in the department and helping the move towards multi-skilling and multi-platforms.
back to top ^
|
