College of Journalism Feed

#BBCscc12 - Connecting Communities Conference - Salford

2012-04-26T14:41:44+00:00

Thursday 24 May 2012, MediaCityUK, Salford

We've now opened registration for our Connecting Communities Conference on 24 May at the BBC's new headquarters at MediaCityUK in Salford.

The idea is to provide a forum for debate and discussion about how mainstream media can engage with communities on a local, global and cultural level.

We have been working closely with the Paris-based user-generated content agency Citizenside in putting together this conference. It will focus on three key areas: quality and values, money and resources, and practicalities.

There'll be keynote speeches, panel discussions, 10/10 presentations and networking opportunities throughout the day.

The speakers include:

Jan Schaffer, executive director, J-Lab

Adrian Van Klaveren, controller, BBC Radio 5 Live

Jon Kingsbury, programme director, NESTA

Garrett Goodman, Citizenside

Ade Oshineye, Google+

Mark Rock, founder, Audioboo

Paul Egglestone, University of Central Lancashire

Puruesh Chaudhary and Amir Jahingar, Mishal, Pakistan

Henry Peirse, founder, GRNLive.

This free event will begin at 9am and end at 5pm. If you'd like to come along, register here.

Please note: we have had an amazing response so far and tickets are limited, so please only register if you know you will be able to attend.

The hashtag is #BBCscc12

Event: World Press Freedom Day 2012

2012-04-24T12:51:22+00:00

Thursday 3 May 2012, Thomson Reuters, London

Strasbourg: Journalists' Foe or Friend?

The UK Press Freedom Network, with support from UNESCO, The Society of Editors and the BBC College of Journalism, is holding a public event to mark World Press Freedom Day.

This year's event will look at media freedom and the rule of law in Europe.

We have gathered together prominent journalists, lawyers and politicians for the occasion, which will feature a panel including Lord Fowler, Geoffrey Robertson QC and Aidan White, and an open discussion chaired by Clive Anderson.

When:

6.30pm - 8pm

Thursday 3 May 2012

Where:

Thomson Reuters building

30 South Colonnade

Canary Wharf

London E14 5EP

If you would like to attend, email grace.anyibuofu@thomsonreuters.com.

Video: Local Elections and Mayoral Referendums

2012-04-23T09:13:51+00:00

BBC political correspondent Mike Sergeant told journalists at a CoJo Wednesday lunchtime session that there is potentially a big change coming to the way local government operates in England.

As ten of the country's biggest cities are voting to decide whether they want to elect their own mayor directly, he said the key point of interest is "where we are with our political culture".

"Is the party still the dominant way in which people engage with politics, or are independent figures going to start to play more of a role?"

This external content is available at its source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR20U_5oC7U

BBC Yorkshire political editor Len Tingle said that, given the potential significance of the mayoral referendums, the surprising thing is how little effort seems to be going into the campaigns.

This external content is available at its source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM5bgRl5tZA

You would be wrong to put too much emphasis on the campaigns of individuals, according to the BBC's editor of political research and analysis, David Cowling.

There was much talk when George Galloway won a seat in the UK Parliament in an unexpected by-election victory that this ushered in a new era of independent politicians. David Cowling thinks that view is very much mistaken.

Despite the expenses scandals, an inconclusive general election and all the talk about the established parties being 'rubbish and held in total contempt', in 2008 there were 1,500 councillors in England representing parties other than Labour, Conservative or Lib Dem. In 2011 that had fallen by 21%.

"People will give you rabbit, rabbit, rabbit for endless hours about how contemptible (the established parties) are. Blow me, who do they vote for? Those self-same parties," David Cowling said.

This external content is available at its source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np8x7U-YpYg

Innovation Award - closing date approaches

2012-04-17T08:54:59+00:00

Big Stories: Scotland's Independence Referendum

2012-04-11T11:50:00+00:00

In this Big Stories event, chaired by BBC director of news Helen Boaden, you can hear about some of the key questions for politicians at Holyrood and Westminster as the debate on a referendum on Scottish independence continues.

Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, has announced plans to hold an independence referendum in autumn 2014. Mr Salmond's opponents say the delay is causing uncertainty for Scotland and its economy.

But there is still much to play for, according to Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland's political editor. Brian explores the issues around the timing of a referendum and the question - or questions - that may be put to the Scottish electorate:

This external content is available at its source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0Dt8RAqZzA

The BBC's political editor, Nick Robinson, considers the campaign from Westminster:

This external content is available at its source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeJzubD86Tw

Economics editor Stephanie Flanders looks at what independence might mean for Scotland's economy, and for the rest of the UK:

This external content is available at its source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-5R5lYv9yY

and Andrew Neil, presenter of the Daily Politics, examines some of the legal issues in the event of a 'yes' vote for independence:

This external content is available at its source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UhHgvCLX8s

Video: Understanding the Economy

2012-03-22T10:23:01+00:00

This external content is available at its source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqEeyXe-EkA

Not surprisingly perhaps, there's been a huge shift in people's interest in the state of the economy. Far more people now say they are interested than was the case prior to the 2008 financial crisis, and far greater numbers say they follow news about the economy daily.

But a very large minority of the audience - nearly half - say they still don't understand it. That despite repeated explanations and backgrounders and the spelling out of acronyms by broadcasters.

Professor Stephen Schifferes also told the BBC journalists at this CoJo Wednesday event that the audience wants to hear more about how changes in the global economy will affect their personal finances, and less about the stock market.

Video: NHS Changes

2012-03-21T12:39:00+00:00

Nick Seddon - 'nobody actually knows what privatisation means'

"Most other countries think that the debate we're having here is really weird," Nick Seddon, deputy director of the independent think-tank Reform, told a College of Journalism lunchtime seminar on Wednesday 29 February.

Talking about the legislation going through the UK parliament to introduce fundamental structural changes to the way the NHS is run, and the confusion and ignorance which characterises the national debate about it, he said:

"The debate internationally is not about whether or not you can allow good, different providers to do healthcare... The debate is just about how best to manage that."

In Britain, he said: "We've forgotten a discussion about quality. We just have a discussion about privatisation or non-privatisation. Nobody actually knows what privatisation means."

This external content is available at its source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC4Uo1mpkuI

Paul Corrigan - 'People don't know why all this stuff is going on'

Paul Corrigan, adviser on healthcare to the last Labour government, told BBC journalists that the current Government had failed to communicate what the changes are.

The problem with the bill, he said, is that "the Government didn't have a narrative which it imposed upon this discussion" and, "if there isn't a story about what's going on and you try to do something very big, you get chaos, layered on chaos, layered on chaos."

He predicted a period of turbulence and tension over the next few years as the "reforms" unfold. "You'll get an incredibly patchy reality," he said.

Chris Mason - 'devilishly complicated'

"As a non-health specialist," BBC News correspondent Chris Mason said he was struck by how "devilishly complicated" the NHS changes are.

Commenting on the 200 hours of scrutiny and 1,000 amendments which accompanied the legislation, he said: "It's so complicated and you have a finite period of time in which to get your piece across. The danger is the bit that gets squeezed out is 'what the hell is this all about?', which leaves the audience completely baffled."

He said the nature of coalition politics is such that coverage of the political debate serves to confuse the public further because Westminster journalists ended up reporting on "arguments about aspects of change which were never going to happen anyway".

This external content is available at its source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccg-DXbcg60

Event: My War - How Soldiers Share Their Story

2012-03-14T10:20:36+00:00

Explore how today's soldiers are sharing their experiences of war

The war in Afghanistan has seen military memoirs take their place on best-seller lists. And soldiers are using personal video cameras or 'helmetcams' to record real-life footage which has been used to make compelling through-their-eyes documentaries such as the BBC three-part documentary Our War.

The War Story events season at the Imperial War Museum launches with directors/producers Bruce Goodison and John Douglas talking about their role in presenting the soldiers' stories. They will be joined by former Army lieutenant Bjorn Rose, who featured in an episode, and professor Rachel Woodward of Newcastle University to look at how our understanding of serving in Afghanistan is affected by discovering the soldier's perspective through documentaries and memoirs.

BBC Radio 4's Quentin Cooper will chair this event.

When

7pm - 8pm
Wednesday 14 March 2012

Where

Imperial War Museum
Lambeth Road
London SE1 6HZ

Pre-booking is required for this free event. Book here.

Postgraduate Student Innovation Award - the Judges

2012-03-12T11:17:22+00:00

We're delighted to announce the line-up of judges for the BBC College of Journalism's Postgraduate Student Innovation Award 2012.

The award is all about championing the wealth of innovative work being done by postgraduate students at journalism schools across the UK. We've chosen the panel to reflect this, inviting journalists, academics and editors with a fantastic track record in the field of innovation.

Since the BBC College of Journalism launched the competition, I've visited many of the colleges and universities where students are eligible to take part. I've been struck by the amount of really interesting new techniques being used in both newsgathering and story-telling, but also the core of great journalism being done.

We have been very clear that, while this is an award for innovation, first-class journalism has got to be at the centre of it all. The need for excellent public interest journalism, holding power to account and acting as the fourth estate is as important now as it always has been.

The panel will be chaired by Jonathan Baker, director of the BBC College of Journalism, with Justin Webb, the Today programme presenter, Marie Kinsey, University of Sheffield Journalism School, Steve Herrmann, editor at BBC News online, Paul Egglestone, University of Central Lancashire, and Alison Gow, Wales Online and Wales on Sunday editor.

Entries for the award close at the end of April and, judging by some of those already submitted, there'll be some very tough competition.

Video: Reflections with Matt Frei

2012-03-05T15:21:44+00:00

This external content is available at its source: //www.viddler.com/v/5c57f3c2/

The Channel 4 News Washington correspondent and presenter Matt Frei gave a fascinating and very amusing account of some of the key moments in his career and the people who have influenced and inspired him.

He was speaking to Vin Ray as part of the BBC College of Journalism and Frontline Club 'Reflections' series.

Matt chose examples ranging from Martin Bell reporting in Bosnia and an interview with Giorgio Armani, to seeing the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Video: Reporting Russia

2012-03-02T14:08:17+00:00

Russian Presidential Election

BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall described the anxieties and criticisms expressed to her and other Russian specialists who were invited to a high-level conference in Russia last autumn.

She says she and many of her colleagues were struck by how many critical voices there were: "Most telling of all was the sense of disappointment, and even a sense of being affronted, that the apparent choice that they might have been offered between Putin and Medvedev in the coming election had been snatched from them without consultation and without any warning."

Clip

Event: Understanding the Economy

2012-03-02T12:09:27+00:00

Understanding the Economy, Wednesday 7 March

How much does the audience understand about the economy?

Do we have to explain every single time the ECB, BIS, EIB, ESM, GDP, CPI, OECD, IMF alphabet soup which inevitably sustains business/economy stories?

Do you know your Volcker rule from your offside rule? More to the point, does the audience?

And what is a 'dead cat bounce'?

Jonathan Baker, head of the BBC College of Journalism, looks at how successful the BBC has been at getting economic and business stories across to the audience, with:

Mary Hockaday, head of Newsroom

Jon Zilkha, editor, BBC economics and business centre

Professor Steve Schifferes, director, financial journalism MA, City University.

When

1.30pm - 2.30pm
Wednesday 7 March 2012

Where

Room 4, 6th floor suite, Television Centre

BBC staff can watch this event streamed live at:
http://home.gateway.bbc.co.uk/gwmedia/gateway_wmlive5.asx

Video: Police and Journalists

2012-02-28T13:01:08+00:00

"Contacts with the police are amongst the most important we have, as reporters, and among the most difficult to cultivate and maintain," BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw told a College of Journalism lunchtime seminar on Wednesday 22 February.

"We've got to get this relationship between ourselves and the police right," he said. But, he added, it is not about "carousing" or "filling in forms".

This external content is available at its source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHTKqtmM7ls

Elizabeth Filkin told BBC journalists watching the seminar in Television Centre that there has been "a lack of transparency" and "inadequate control" which has led to "information being given out which should not have been given out" and "information which ought to have been given out not being given out".

She stressed the importance of more and better communication between the police and the media, and said the lack of transparency has led to "unequal access".

For her recent report, she spoke to 137 people in all, including many police officers and journalists, and had been told by many journalists of the unequal access given to some publications over others. She said there has been "quite a lot of improper disclosure for personal advantage".

This external content is available at its source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx8B3ORmMZo

Jeff Edwards, who has recently retired as chief crime correspondent for The Daily Mirror and is president of the Crime Reporters' Association, told journalists that in the course of a long career he has known well three police officers who have gone to prison for corruption. But, he said, 'I would be amazed if there have been many instances of reporters paying police officers. I would be amazed if that's going on."

This external content is available at its source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdptdq-qtAA

Event: NHS Reform

2012-02-28T11:03:19+00:00

Wednesday 29 February 2012, BBC Television Centre, London

Is NHS reform a political story or a practical one? Can you say, hand on heart, that you understand all the proposals and their implications? And is the BBC missing important aspects of this story?

Branwen Jeffreys, BBC News health correspondent, provides a working journalists' guide to NHS reform with health experts

Paul Corrigan, adviser on healthcare to the last Labour government

and Nick Seddon, deputy director of the independent think-tank Reform.

When

1.30pm - 2.30pm
Wednesday 29 February 2012

Where

Room 4, 6th floor suite, Television Centre

This event will not be streamed live. BBC staff only.

Video: Reporting the Olympic/Jubilee Year

2012-02-27T11:36:43+00:00

This external content is available at its source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hruGEZIv_T8

Does the BBC risk boring the audience with too much Olympic or Jubilee coverage? And what happens if there's a major news story at the same time?

"Don't be taken in by the Radio 4 audience that turns up for a gardening programme on a wet afternoon," said head of BBC News programmes Stephen Mitchell.

He was referring to Gardeners' Question Time on 3 February when horticulturalist Bob Flowerdew said: "I'd make sport illegal." His view that school sports pitches and the Olympic venue should be dug up and turned over to allotments met with enthusiastic applause and laughter from the Radio 4 audience.

At this CoJo lunchtime session, Stephen Mitchell joined Amanda Farnsworth, BBC project executive, 2012, Adrian Van-Klaveren, controller, BBC Radio 5 Live, and Stephen Mitchell, head of BBC News programmes, to discuss the BBC's coverage of the Olympics with NewsWatch presenter Raymond Snoddy.

Stephen Mitchell stressed: "I think it's safe to assume the bulk of the population will be taking in some of the sport. But there are a multitude of views around the issues which surround the sport and we'll try to reflect them."