Working with digital technology

We can offer you an NVQ Level 3 in Radio Production. At the end of the full-time 35-week course, you will have all the skills you need to be a Broadcast Assistant. You will research interviews, fix guests for the programme, record and mix your own packages on screen using digital technology. The current trainees are now offering material to other programmes such as the Breakfast Show. They are also occasionally to be found in BBC Radio Lincolnshire's main studios in Lincoln helping with programmes.

If this sounds like you, get in touch right now-we're looking for a new small team to start as soon as possible and again in September.

For course details and costs contact:
Mike Kinnaird
mikekinnaird@beeb.net
mki@monksdyke.lincs.sch.uk
07952 100 406

Meet the Friday Night Mix Team from Louth

Gareth Rees

My name is Gareth Rees. I'm the Welsh contingent on the course, originally from South Wales. I was living in North Wales when I saw an advertisement in the media section of The Guardian and promptly replied. I got an interview and unbelievably got on the course.

It's more hands-on than I imagined but from the practical work we do in making packages for BBC Radio Lincolnshire show 'The Friday Night Mix' the transition from student to Broadcast Assistant seems achievable.

Getting material actually broadcast on air is the best experience you can gain.

Brendan Barwise

Hello my name is Brendan, an original child of Lincoln. You may remember me from such historic events as Pop Will Eat Itself playing The Old School House in 94 and drinking cider in the Arbo (circa 95-98). I was born over the road in Hartsholme (just round the corner from Lincoln Utd. and near the chippy) and after playing away in Yorkshire for a decade I came back, flat cap in hand to do the Radio course here in Louth leaving behind a knife and two skids.

Me and my sister used to record ourselves doing shows on a little tape recorder when we were little (she was Michaela Strachan and I was Timmy Mallett) and isn't it weird when you hear your own voice??? Well I've come a long way since then, conducting interviews, producing packages for the station's output, studio work and of course getting to know my old friend Lincolnshire all over again. Where's the Roadcar station gone?

Rachael Thomas

Hi, I'm Rachael from sunny Scarborough. My first experience of radio was as a member of The Air Cadets when weekends were spent driving around the Moors in a vintage Lada with a 10- foot radio mast strapped to the top. We didn't get very good reception up there (mostly other stations in Scarborough) but we did get the occasional sheep (ten points).

Its really exciting making packages for The Mix, you get such a buzz hearing your own voice on the radio. One of the best things I've done was an Outside Broadcast with John on Valentine's Day.

He had to chat up strangers with cheesy chat up lines, I got to hold the microphone and laugh. Well, onwards and upwards. This time next year I'm hoping to be a fully fledged BA, chatting cosily with my heroine Janice Long.

John Baker

At 25 I'm the baby of the course, and before it started I worked at a day-care centre in South Lincolnshire for people with learning disabilities and mental health problems. Because I was one of the loudest people there, everyone encouraged me to come on this course when the opportunity arose.

I have also worked in Hospital Radio in Kings Lynn for two years, which has given me a real hunger to make it professionally, as well as an addiction to nurse's uniforms and antiseptic cream.

My main loves on the radio are news and sport. I like talking to new people and learning new things, and this course has given me the chance to turn this into good radio. I've visited a curry house kitchen, a Lincoln observatory, Butlins and Sincil Bank; spoken to the film editor at Radio Times; tried to explain to some Americans at Macy's what Crackers are; and gone out pulling live on Valentines night. All good stuff - and highly recommended