Journalism Students Spread Positivity Via the Airwaves
Second year Journalism student Izzie Compton records her contributions for the first show from the dining table at her home in the New Forest, Hampshire.
Falmouth Journalism students have teamed up with Cornish radio station Source FM to provide daily news about the impact of Coronavirus in the area.
The community station invited Journalism students to produce a daily show to highlight the many positive efforts that the community in Falmouth and Penryn are undertaking to help cope with the crisis.
Lecturer Kevin Bishop and technician Ivor Richards are leading a team of about 12 students, with others joining regularly. The lockdown obviously means the whole operation is being run remotely, with Kevin reprising a newsgathering role he used to perform for the BBC to marshall reporters spread far and wide. Ivor is providing the technical and editing know-how.
Using online resources to find stories and record interviews, students are producing a variety of reports every day. Subjects covered so far include a project to deliver food, how footballers are keeping fit at home and an appeal for accommodation for key workers.
Third year Journalism and Creative Writing student Joseph Buncle and third year Journalism student Kira Taylor records their contributions from home.
One of the quirkier highlights was a report on a local woman who’s been feeding a robin on Pendennis Point. She can no longer travel there but has found a willing community to help feed the bird while she self isolates.
The bulletin was first broadcast on March 30. It is on air at 8am and repeated at 1pm every day, with a compilation at the weekend.
“At a time of national emergency it’s great to see Falmouth Journalism students step up to the plate and produce such quality reports, especially as some of them too are self-isolating. As well as making a real positive contribution to the community, it will serve them well for their CVs and portfolios.”
Call to our English and Creative Writing Students
Lecturer Kevin Bishop expressed how the team is keen to get more cultural content on and extended the invitation to our Writing and English students to join in and gain some skills in broadcasting. Training will be provided and it is an excellent opportunity to bring nuance to your CV and portfolio, as well as to make a significant, positive contribution to our social-distancing lives.
Are you interested? Please get in touch with Kevin Bishop for more information and training.
by FalWriting