BBC placement coincides with incredible news era for media student Fletcher
A University of Huddersfield journalism student is making the most of winning a prestigious two-month placement with BBC Yorkshire that has coincided with some momentous news stories.
Fletcher Shore is with the BBC under the auspices of the Len Tingle memorial placement, named after BBC Yorkshire’s hugely-respected political editor, who lived in the Huddersfield area for many years.
The 20-year-old is currently in the third year of his Broadcast Journalism degree, and he secured the chance to work with the BBC based out of their Leeds office on the scheme, open to one student per year from seven Yorkshire universities.
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Fletcher found that his course helped lay the building blocks for his stint with the BBC.
“Broadcast Journalism is made of several mandatory practical modules, so you're learning skills and making news from the start,” he says. “Gaining experience of producing news items and bulletins, alongside being taught by people currently working in the industry, helped demonstrate my experience, knowledge of BBC Yorkshire and love of news to the team. I already had the drive and passion, but it was the vocabulary and hands on experience that helped me express that.”
Economic meltdown? PM resigning? No problem.
Fletcher’s eight-week placement started in early October, and has already covered the regional implications of the recent mini-budget and the subsequent economic turmoil it generated.
“It is fascinating. Journalism is all about the unexpected,” he says. “Westminster is full of surprises, so there's never a dull moment. It's incredible being in the office when big news breaks. The way the team responds and works together to reflect it, sometimes throwing out a bulletin hours before broadcast - it's amazing watching professionals at work.
“I was in when Liz Truss resigned, so I kept an eye on network's news feeds and stepped in to operate the autocue for the evening programme. The producer bought sweets afterwards to thank everyone for their hard work. I couldn't ask to be with a better team.
“My first week had been for settling into the newsroom, getting acquainted with everything, and learning the BBC way. So far, I have attended news meetings, accompanied journalists on shoots and watched Look North's lunch and evening bulletins being broadcast from the gallery.
Fletcher on stage at the Alhambra in Bradford with Billy Pearce and Divina De Campo“It's been a mixed bag of stories too, including the opening of a pop-up shop by a Ukrainian fashion designer, an interview with Billy Pearce and Divina De Campo - stars of the panto at the Alhambra - and auditions for the world-renowned Moulin Rouge. I'll be doing a bit of everything over the remaining weeks - working on stories with journalists from Radio Leeds, Look North and Politics North, producing content for online and eventually joining the planning team. It's all very exciting.
Famous faces help Fletcher feel at home
“I've met pretty much everyone from telly, like Amy Garcia and weatherman Paul Hudson, and radio. It's normal to me now - I'm no longer starstruck when I walk into the office.”
The chance to gain practical industry experience is one that Fletcher is keen to capitalise on, and he has the support of the BBC to work on one particular item in his remaining time with them.
Fletcher behind the scenes in a gallery at the BBC in Leeds“The placement already sets me apart from the competition, and it's all well and good having it on your CV, so long you have something to show for it. I want to build my professional portfolio, so when I go for a full-time job, I'll have a leg up. At the moment, I'm working on a story I found myself, which they're intending to run. Given the nature, however, we'll have to wait and see what happens.”
Richard Jones, Subject Area Leader in Media, Journalism, Film and Drama, said, “I’m delighted that Fletcher is spending eight weeks with the team at BBC Yorkshire. He has earned this through his hard work and enthusiasm during the first two years of his degree, taking advantage of all the opportunities provided by the course here at Huddersfield. This will help him take the next steps towards what I’m sure will be a great career in journalism.”