A Ticket into TV

2015-10-02T10:20:38+00:00

A-level student Nia Dalton volunteered at the BBC’s recent Talent Ticket Roadshow in Bristol. Talent Ticket is designed for year-9 students across 10 of the most disadvantaged schools in Bristol, and aims to present students with an alternative career path in TV.

I benefitted from the week massively, and it confirmed I am eager to pursue the path of journalism.

I am currently studying English Language, Media Studies and Geography in my second year of A-Levels at the CLF Sixth Form Partnership, Bristol. I wish to pursue an under-graduate degree at university, followed by a post-graduate degree in journalism.

I was familiar with many of the programmes produced from BBC Bristol, such as ‘DIY SOS’, ‘Antiques Roadshow’, ‘Springwatch’ and ‘Deal or No Deal’. I quickly learnt how different jobs work together to create a final programme. The workplace was as professional and organised as I expected, and so relaxed that I felt comfortable and accepted. I was taken aback by the time, money and skills needed to create the kind of short programme that I simply sit back with a coffee and watch at home. I felt that I could speak openly to three members of staff; my previous BBC tutor Katie Ellis (from the Talent Ticket scheme), and our supervisors Jo Sunderland and Shana Rose. They guided and supported us throughout the week.

From my experience of the ‘BBC Talent Ticket’ scheme this year I was eager to return on work experience with a group of year-10 students. Although they were many years younger than me we all quickly became friends and a team under the guidance of BBC staff.

Young people at The Talent Ticket Roadshow in Bristol.

I attended for five days and experienced different jobs and activities. We were constantly on our feet interacting and learning. One minute I was the director for our Radio 4 show, and then I switched to being a news sports presenter. I learnt many things that just cannot be taught in a classroom. My favourite moment was pitching our own natural history show idea to producers. We had spent the morning brain-storming and gathering inspiration from pitches the BBC were working on. Our target audience was our own age. Our idea was based around sending mis-behaved teenagers into badly affected areas of natural disasters. Not only would this give the teenagers a reality check into difficult, life-threatening situations, but it would also challenge their ability to adapt and help communities. We would give the presenters a task to fulfil (such as building a school), balancing a budget and then film them helping the community. The BBC Bristol production team were supportive and enthusiastic about our idea - filling us with relief and adrenaline!

I benefitted from the week massively as it confirmed I am interested and eager to write in the media eye, and pursue a journalism path. I would like to thank everyone who was a part of my work experience placement.

BBC Outreach & Corporate Responsibility brings the BBC closer to its audiences - particularly those audiences we have identified as harder to reach - with face-to-face activity, community support and staff volunteering.

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A Ticket into TV