From their website they confirm that if you work for them, you will have a career that includes development and training. They have their own Training & Development Academy that covers all areas of broadcasting. Their website has the following quote “To be the most creative organisation in the world we need to attract the most creative and talented people.” From this quotation who wouldn’t want to be part of this amazing team.
Wendy Rees is the current Head of BBC Wales’ Operations in North Wales, although she has a degree in Law she initially joined S4C in the legal department, but with a Welsh focus on growing need for Welsh Language craft training in the independent sector she transferred to Cyfle.
Cyfle is a training company for the creative industries in Wales it was formed in 1986, and has established a reputation for delivering a variety of high quality structured training schemes, which are purposely designed to meet the demands of a rapidly changing industry.
Wendy then went on to join the BBC and work in the Human Resources Department, before coming to the role she currently holds today. It is from this background that she takes the session at Creative Futures.
Wendy started off by saying the BBC has a Talent Pool, where people get recruited on to the Training programmes, be it Production, Design or Digital Media. The BBC looks for people that are creative and passionate about their work, and as well passionate about what the BBC does. Wendy confirmed that the BBC have part of the website dedicated to job recruitment (www.bbc.co.uk/careers/home) and they currently have vacancies at Salford BBC.
The BBC also offers work experience (www.bbc.co.uk/careers/work-experiencewww.bbc.co.uk/careers/work-experience), which can work in your favour when applying to join the Talent Pool. The BBC offers more than 1700 work experience opportunities per year, and covers a wide range of jobs including Television and Radio. It gives you the opportunity to see the BBC from the inside, the chance to make contacts and to see how your ideas would be received, it is a great learning opportunity. Work experience at the BBC can be advantageous to you whether you seek employment with the BBC or any other Media Company, as the skills learnt are transferrable.
Wendy went on to say should you seek employment with the BBC the interview would be competency based and you would be tested on your production skills. It would be beneficial to bring evidence of experience you have gained, be it by CV or portfolio, to show a time when you have done well.
When you complete you BBC Application form, Wendy went on to explain the information should be relevant, precise and draw out key points relating to the job you are applying for. Wendy confirmed when the BBC interview for jobs they look for an applicant that stands out, is different, has a passion for what they do, someone who is creative and dedicated. The BBC requires people who are flexible, who have strengths in all media forms (Photograph, Film and Digital Programmes) , who are multi-skilled, adapt to new and changing technology, who are prepared to give time be it on short notice, or long hours. Wendy also pointed out that some areas of the BBC involve a bi-lingual requirement i.e. BBC Cymru likes to have people that can speak and understand English and Welsh.
w.rees@bbc.co.uk
Upon reflection, I enjoyed this session, I found Wendy provided the information clearly but also with clarity, she obviously enjoys her job and is proud of working for the BBC. With the information I gathered, and the dedication to training and support BBC offers, I am still considering it as a career option when I finish University.
Piece to Camera by Matthew Richards - BBC
Matthew Richards joined BBC Cymru in 1996, he holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Central Lancashire. For the last few years he has been the North East Wales reporter for the Wales today programme. It is from this practical background that he takes two sessions at Creative Futures with the focus being on the practicalities of life in front and behind the camera.
This session I felt would be beneficial in a practical way. The session description detailed very much a hands approach to face to face interviewing. With Matthew’s experience as a Television reporter I felt the knowledge gained would benefit my film making skills especially.
As mentioned in the previous session “Getting a Job by Wendy Rees of the BBC Wales”, BBC Cymru Wales provides a wide range of Welsh and English language content for audiences across Wales on television, radio and on our websites. Their network TV productions include Doctor Who and Torchwood, both of which attract millions of viewers worldwide.
https://twitter.com/#!/matthewcrich
http://tvnewsroom.co.uk/people/matthew-richards
Matthew started the session with the question – Which is it reporter or presenter? The simple answer is – it is anyone speaking to the camera. So what is the presenters and cameraman’s worse nightmare? Matthew continued with the answer the “Bad Interviewee”, Matthew then went on to explain what makes a bad interviewee:
• Fidgeting
• No eye contact
• Lots of hand movements
• Not giving full answers
• Covering their mouth
• Use of jargon
Matthew then detailed some practicalities to help the presenter and cameraman in these situations:
• Don’t worry about hands – look at interviewer
• Stop if you want – they need you now
• Get wired for sound
Matthew then went on to explain that the BBC offers Media Training. It began in the 1990’s and was designed to give advice and help for both for the interviewer or the interviewee whether famous or not. The BBC hires consultants to help the interviewee get their message across to the public in an interview situation.
They give advice to prevent bad habits occurring and how to answer questions even if they are “bad” questions.
Matthew asked us to bear in mind as presenters that the interviewee will have aims and objectives when they are being interviewed. Matthew then gave us some examples of what these could be:
• Publicity
• Money to gain support for a concern
• Political message
• Good TV – to gain publicity
• News story
Matthew then went on to explain the basics principles of interviewing, and recommended that initially we always start with them.
• Who/What/Where/When/How
• No agenda – don’t go in with preconceived ideas
• No advanced questions – don’t try to ask too specific questions
• General tone – keep it friendly and informative
• No ambush – always have the interview arranged.
Your appearance is very critical when appearing in front of a camera, whether as a presenter or interviewee. Matthew gave us the following guidelines to follow:
• No fussy clothing
• Stripes/checks causes “strobing”
• Avoid bold colours
• Plain muted colours – no white
Matthew confirmed that if possible check a mirror, if not you can always ask the cameraman to record you and check the tape/film back to see how you appear.
Matthew then gave us his top tip for interviewing, keep it clear and concise. He asked us to remember that when the interview gets edited, approximately 90% will go. He recommended that we keep the sound bites to no more than 30 seconds.
Matthew then went on to explain the editing process, they will always edit the interview to make it sound natural and they will remove the “ums” and “ers”. Matthew said what surprises most people when they first hear themselves, is the way they sound -yes that is the way you sound. It is always the responsibility of the interviewer to do the editing (or BBC), the interviewee never gets input on this final process.
Matthew then gave us his hints of being a good presenter.
• Be Passionate
• Be Enthusiastic
• Be Animated
• Be Lively
• Be in Control
• Keep it simple
• Always explain technical terms – (Devil is in the detail)
• Make it personal and real
Matthew then went on to say the BBC look for visual flair, be creative, show your working abilities, always be prepared to compromise, look for ways to illustrate a story in a new way.
Matthew explained that the best interviews are ones that make it personal, viewers relate to emotional responses. Paint pictures with the words you use, make creative use of the language.
Sadly, Matthew went on to say the hardest bit for any presenter is when the interview goes to the cutting room, it might get dropped, as news breaks all the time, so always be prepared for the worst, then if your interview gets aired you can really rejoice.
This session has also renewed my determination to gain full practical working knowledge of the TV studio within the Creative Industries building before I finish my degree. Initially, I would like to learn how to operate the cameras, to mixing and editing programmes, with the long term aim of creating my own programme with the view that I could undertake every part of the production, if I so desired.
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