Capital City College’s aspiring media professionals gain industry insight and experience at BBC Young Reporter event

Students from Capital City College’s Media and Music courses attend BBC Young Reporter and Share Your Story Podcasting day at Radio Theatre in BBC Broadcasting House.

On 18 October, a group of 30 Capital City College (CCC) students attended the BBC Young Reporter and Share Your Story Podcasting day. During the event, which took place at the Radio Theatre at BBC Broadcasting House, students enjoyed a variety of engaging and insightful sessions which centred on life behind the scenes in the world of podcasting.

The students, who are currently studying Level 3 Media courses and Level 2 Music courses at CCC received expert input from BBC producers and a BBC presenter and had the opportunity to find out more about a variety of roles related to working in audio. The event was hosted by De-Graft Mensah, an experienced presenter and journalist who has worked on CBBC’s Newsround as well as BBC documentaries and podcasts. 

After arriving at Radio Theatre, students had the opportunity to meet BBC Apprentices and learn about current open apprenticeship schemes and applications. They also participated in workshops focussing on SoundScapes and sound design for film and television.

Students then attended a podcast masterclass delivered by Daniel Wittenberg, Senior Field Producer at BBC News and Audio Series Producer. During the session, Daniel drew on his extensive experience as a senior producer on both the Americast and Newscast podcasts as well as his experience working on the BBC News at One/Six/Ten, Foreign Desk and Today programme.

The event continued with an open interview with award-winning podcast producer and presenter Tommy Dixon, who shared his experience of working in the audio industry. Tommy also led a live recording of his BBC podcast, Colouring in Britain Live – a podcast which highlights unknown stories of historical and contemporary figures of colour in British history such as Benjamin Zephaniah, Claudia Jones, Princess Campbell and Paul Stephenson. The podcast uses interviews, narration and drama to bring pivotal moments in British history to life and students enjoying the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of podcast production and recording during the live event.

During the course of the day, students were able to learn more about different types of audiences and put their creative skills to use by developing an idea for an original podcast. They then had a chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of experts, giving them a brief but memorable taste of the commissioning process in the media industry.

Hadil Khanjar, a CCC student attending the BBC Young Report event, said: “When we were told we were going to BBC Studios I could not believe it, it felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity. What I enjoyed most about this trip was speaking to people who are relatable and were once in my shoes. It makes me feel like I can do it as well. It’s definitely made me want to progress my studies and eventually work for the BBC.”

Henna Abid, Creative and Media Technician, said: “Our students were thrilled to have the opportunity to visit the BBC studios for BBC Young Reporters day. They were able to view authentic memorabilia from Doctor Who and view the renowned BBC newsroom, witnessing first hand where live news broadcasts take place. As well as talking to many industry professionals who were once in their shoes. Experiences like these are invaluable for our students, offering them a genuine insight into the industry and inspiring them to pursue their ambitions of working in large-scale productions, such as those at the BBC.”

We offer a range of expert-led Digital Media courses and Music and Music Production courses for those aspiring to work in the media industry. Apply now!

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