5 Live Children In Need Special I worked on

With Angela Robson at Pearlworks I edited and mixed a documentary feature presented by Blue Peter's Helen Skelton for BBC 5 Live's Children in Need coverage.  It is in the lunchtime show tomorrow....

Tony Livesey sits in for Shelagh Fogarty as Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton joins him live in the studio to present a special report on Children in Need day.
Helen has been in North Liverpool, spending time with 2 projects funded by money raised by Children in Need. The projects reach out to teenagers who may otherwise get caught up in the area's drugs and gang culture problems.

It is well worth a listen as it explores the youth culture in Liverpool and how two organisations are helping young people break the gang culture cycle. It includes some very powerful interviews with young people of Liverpool and the youth workers who are heling them change their way of life.

Review of What Has Religion Done For Women in The Guardian

This was a one hour documentary fro BBC Radio 2, I fine edited and mixed  for the producer Mark O'Brien recently.  It is an interesting and revealing insight into women and religion and goes beyond the stereotypical viewpoints and voices. The Guardian picked it up as one of its featured programmes in its Rewind Radio series. This is what they had to say...

I was brought up short by the use of music in What Has Religion Done for Women?. Presented by the very great Shelagh Fogarty, as part of Radio 2's Faith in the World Week, this was an intelligent, open-minded investigation into how women of different faiths integrate some of their religion's trickier aspects into their lives. Fogarty spoke to Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Christians, and there were some lovely moments: a Sikh woman talking about how she managed to overcome her embarrassment at having hairy legs (Sikh women aren't meant to cut their hair); Fogarty herself donning a niqab and entering, then leaving, a shop packed with women and children, because, she said: "We're alarming people."
But. This being Radio 2, the producer clearly thought that we couldn't absorb Fogarty's points without relevant music to help. Though it's debatable whether helpful is the right word for the Scissor Sisters' "Mary"; that is, when it's dropped immediately after a discussion on the artistic representations of Mary Magdalene and the Virgin Mary. "Mary!" warbled Jake Shears, meaningfully, "You shouldn't let 'em make you mad." There was a debate about Muslim women's modesty of dress. Followed by Dolly Parton singing: "I can see you're disappointed, by the way you look at me". Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" popped up after the Sikh lady's "hurray for hairy" section; Aretha singing "Respect" after a subtle point about the niqab ensuring that men have to deal with women as an intellect, rather than a body. The cumulative effect was the same as if Shelagh had been followed around by Dave Lee Travis, with his trigger finger twitching on the "Quack Quack Oops" button. I'm not sure that was what was intended.

I have to say as someone who helped the producer place the music, I have disagree with some of the reviewer's points. The music for me added another layer to the story, yes a little tongue in cheek at times, and some of the choices weren't the stereotypical choices for that point in the documentary, but I stand by them.

Human Kind - The story of scientist George Price

Just before I went on holiday I worked on a very interesting programme called Human Kind all about an incredible guy called George Price

Matthew Taylor tells the story of the last eight years in the life of George Price - a scientist who studied the evolution of altruism and who suffered for his faith. With contributions from Price's biographer Oren Harman, writer Marek Kohn, Professor Steve Jones and Price's family and friends, Matthew follows a journey that began with a sensational breakthrough in evolutionary biology and ended in poverty and suicide.

Audio Editor: Mike Thornton

Producer: Peter Everett.

Apart from being an incredible brain and scientist what struck me about his story is that it was so easy to become homeless and one of those people you see wandering the streets.  Also to get an insight into how people loose everything and become homeless. It could so easily be me or you....

It is well worth catching this programme on iPlayer before next Wednesday.

The Robeson Files on BBC Radio 2

The Robeson Files was a very interesting programme to work on that goes out today on BBC Radio 2...

"A first rate nuisance in the world peace campaign... slightly anti-British, he is a crank on the colour question." Words from security files about the American singer and civil rights campaigner, Paul Robeson, as they feared the effect his popularity may have on the European colonies.

Dotun Adebayo looks at back at the extraordinary talents of one of the greatest American recording stars of the early 20th century, Paul Robeson, at how both the FBI and MI5 colluded to try and crush both his career and social justice activism, and examines his extraordinary relationship with the miners of South Wales.

Robeson, the son of an escaped slave, became a forerunner of the civil rights movement and is credited by many - including his godson, singer-songwriter Eric Bibb, for laying the path for future activists such as Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.

This moving and powerful documentary includes archive of Paul Robeson's early performances, his recordings, his speeches and recounts a selection of extracts from the security files - his FBI file is said to be one of the most extensive of any entertainer ever investigated. The Robeson Files also examines Robeson's relationship with the miners of South Wales - whose plight he paralleled with slavery and looks at the years of espionage that resulted in the confiscation of his passport in 1950. This was a particular blow to the Welsh mining community who had invited Robeson to sing at the Miners' Eisteddfod. However, the 1957 Eisteddfod festival was to go down in history. Frustrated at the US and British governments' attempts to control his movements, Robeson addressed and sang to the miners in one of the first ever trans-Atlantic telephone link ups. A year later, Robeson's passport was returned.

Presenter - Dotun Adebayo,

Sound Designer - Mike Thornton

Producer - Hilary Robinson

Hilary brought me in much earlier in the production process and sent me copies of the FBI files to look at. I went through them and identified ones that leapt off the page that would work on radio. I then developed a style so that we could use these texts on the radio. I had them voiced up by a selection of British voices, because quite a number of the files were from the UK, as well as an american voice. Then I used the sound of an old fashioned telex machine to under score the text clips, simple but very effective. I also used music and clips or archive weaved together to help bring together the Welsh connection.  Although I say it myself it was a riveting programme showing the culture of spying and monitoring in the 50s and 60s.

If you miss it then it will be on iPlayer too.

Shedtown - The finale on Radio 4 - The Storm

The shed, wooden icon of escape and isolation. Barry and Jimmy, friends since school days, find themselves slipping inexorably and almost unconsciously into middle age. Wednesday night saw the last episode of Shedtown.

Real storm clouds over Robin Hood Bay whilst we were recording

The Storm

A layer-cake of disaster threatens the creosoted community. And where’s Colin?
Cast:
Barry …… Tony Pitts
Jimmy & Johnny …… Kevin Eldon
Colin ……. Johnny Vegas
Diane …… Suranne Jones
Dave ……. Shaun Dooley
Eleanor …… Ronni Ancona
Deborah Dearden …… Emma Fryer
William ……. Adrian Manfredi
Carly …… Jessica Knappett
Father Michael …… James Quinn
Wes ……Warren Brown
Petshop Owner …… Caron May
Narrator…Maxine Peake
Music……Paul Heaton
Written and created by Tony Pitts
Sound Design by Mike Thornton
Directed by Jim Poyser
Producer: Sally Harrison
A Woolyback Production for BBC Radio 4.

The closing scene where the council send in bulldozers to demolish Shedtown was fun to create for radio. First a building storm through the episode then the arrival of the bulldozers, all normal stuff for a radio drama but then add the ice cream van pushing a shed into its hole and finally the storm rolling the bulldozer over and over with the council official Deborah Dearden inside was fun to create. Needless to say lots of layers in there but the break through sound was the sound of a steel rolling mill which gave me heavy rhythmic clanking as the steel went back and forth through the rollers. I then processed Emma’s screams so they span round and round.

Being buried alive on radio!

However there is another scene that is worthy of a little reveal into the magic of radio drama. It is where Dave and Diane are playing with their latest toy a ‘metal detective’ and they decide to bury Dave in sand using a snokel so he can breathe. The plan is that Diane will be able to find him because “there is metal in his fillings and foil in his cigarette packet”. Being radio of course we don’t actually need to bury Shaun, but some seroius acting was called for from them both as you can see from the pictures….

Stand back, serious acting taking place.

BBC anounce applications for new apprenticeship scheme

BBC North has announced its new apprenticeship scheme. From their web site...

BBC North is delighted to launch our new entry-level apprenticeships. If you’re aged 16 and over, live in the Greater Manchester area and have left formal education and not gained A Levels or equivalent qualifications, then our new Apprenticeships provide you with the ideal route of entry into the BBC.

Running for 12-18 months, Apprenticeships at the BBC combine college learning with full time paid jobs. You’ll find all that you need to apply on this webpage, so check through all the information on how to apply below, and head to the right side of the page to read the job descriptions for exciting new apprenticeships at BBC Learning, BBC Marketing & Audiences, BBC Technology Operations, BBC Head Quarters North and BBC Children's (roles at BBC Children's are only open to those who are 18 years of age and over.)

You will be based at our new location at Salford Quays. When you've completed your apprenticeship, you'll not only have had valuable work experience to help you get started in your career, but you'll also have a chance to apply for a permanent position at the BBC.

This will be a specific job in a specific department and will be day release to college. It is being run in conjunction with Manchester College and will be overseen by David Longworth who is now working for the BBC. Also please note the salary scales £8K per annum for 16-17 yrs old, £11.1K per annum for 18 + yrs old which works out at around £154 per week for 16 to 17 year ols and £212 for 18 plus. 

The closing dates for applications for all posts is on 8th July at midnight.

More info, including job specs here

Shedtown review in Daily Telegraph

Gillian Reynolds Has written a lovely little review in The Daily Telegraph

We’re half way through Tony Pitts’s blackly comic series, about a strange seaside place where odd people live. At three in the morning someone is screaming. It’s the kind of thing that happens in Shedtown down by the bay, where dogs arrive as parcels in the post. It’s a bit like Under Milk Wood with touches of Father Ted. And it’s curiously addictive, the vivid, dreamlike script given life by a marvellous cast, including Suranne Jones, Ronni Ancona and Johnny Vegas as Colin (a thoughtful melancholic). Tonight: a puppet show about 9/11. 

Wow, "a bit like Under Milk Wood" praise indeed. This episode certainly had some sound design challenges, not least creating the unwrapping of a dog sent through the post in a parcel!! And the night screams were fun to record on the beach, we certainly got some very strange looks from passers by. All great fun.

Jim Poyser (Director) and James Quinn (Father Michael) at the end of the rainbow on the beach just after the puppet show scene

Another series of The Choice on BBC Radio 4

Radio 4 are running another series of The Choice which must be the 7th series on the trot that I have edited, the last 4 of which have been with producer Dawn Bryan. It is a series featuring people who have made life-altering decisions and exploring the whole process, from the original dilemma to living with the consequences.

This series has four episodes and the first 3 are available on iPlayer...

Episode 1 - Mikey Walsh

He grew up in the closed world of the Romany gypsies. Rarely at school, he seldom mixed with anyone outside his community with its colourful characters and strict family code. And despite its violence and hardships, it was the life that Mikey loved. Eventually he was faced with the agonising decision of whether to turn his back on everyone and everything he knew .....and face an alien world with no education and support... knowing he would never be able to return.

This programme really brought home to me both the strong community the Romany gypsies have, that is partially controlled by fear. But also the deliberate plans by some gypsies to take advantage and rip people off.

Episode 2 - Di Franks

When Di Franks asked her doctor about donating her kidney, she wasn't sure she would be taken seriously. Because Di wasn't giving her healthy organ to a sick and needy relative.. she wanted to donate it to a complete stranger. Five years ago it was illegal to give a kidney to someone you didn't know in this country.  When it was made legal, inspired by a friend in the US who had themselves donated a kidney, Di was faced with the extraordinary choice. Should she undergo a major operation to remove a vital organ to help someone she would probably never know ? Not only was she was risking her own life, the choice could have consequences for her son and the rest of her family if they ever needed her organ...

A powerful story of someone who wanted to help others but in a very different way.

Episode 3 - Joe Glenton

Joe Glenton was a bright young soldier, destined for leadership and intent on helping the local people, when he made his first trip to Afghanistan in 2006.  But what he experienced there led him to make the hardest choice of his life.. to honour his commitment to his colleagues and the people of Afghanistan or abandon his men, break his promise and run away to the other side of the world.

Joe's story made me even more aware of what war and killing does to individuals.

Episocde 4 - Professor Kevin Warwick

There will be more details on this rogramme on the Radio 4 web site next week.

But it is RIP The Choice after this. It is one of the changes Gwyneth Williams, the new controller of BBC Radio 4 has decided to make.

Shedtown - episode 2 on BBC Radio 4

Last night Radio 4 broadcast the 2nd episode of Shedtown, a 4 part comedy starring Johnny Vegas.

"Foundations" written by Kevin Eldon in which, Colin (Johnny Vegas) is all at sea as the foundations of Jimmy's dream take shape on the beach. Wes and Father Michael witness the profits of some not-so-spiritual meat.

Script conference on the beach

As you my remember I recorded this comedy drama on location in Robin Hood Bay last September and one of the challenges was to find a shed to record all the 'shed actoring' in. Sally Harrison, the producer had done some research and found 2 possible candidates. One was a small shed in the village itself, and the second was the score board hut at the local cricket club. Both had their merits so we decided to use them both for different scenes. The one in the village we used when Barry gets kicked out of the house and decides to live in the shed in the garden with his dog. But because it was in the village and it was full of visitors we had the fun of getting a complete take in without too many people in the background. We decided to use the cricket club shed for the sheds that become "Shedtown" on the beach. However part way through recording the shed scenes a local farmer decided to plough a field close to the cricket club so we had to time the 'takes' when he was at the far end of his field. However we were loosing too much time, so we abandoned the session and went and recorded some other scenes. The next time we returned to the cricket club, the farmer had gone but instead, not long after after starting again, we had a pitch invasion! A number of young people had been tasked to tidy up the ground and they had to do it that date. So we then had to search for yet another shed! We found one that belonged to the ice cream seller on the beach and he kindly cleared it out and so his shed enabled us to complete all the shed scenes for the series in one session and helped us get back on track.

Shedtown - Radio 4 comedy series starts on 1st June

I have to go back to early September where for nearly a week the cast and crew lived and worked in Robin Hood Bay recording Shedtown on location before the weather broke too much.  Ha ha, the British weather kept us on our toes and made umpteen schedules out of date almost before they had come out of the printer.

The view out to sea showing some of the bad weather coming in!

The frst episode is called "Something is Gonna Change....

Who hasn't thought about running away from it all at some time or other? Throwing caution to the wind, wrenching oneself out of a long established orbit to head for the deep space of the unknown?
Barry (Tony Pitts) and Jimmy (Kevin Eldon) haven't. Until now. Friends since school days in a small town, they find themselves slipping inexorably and almost unconsciously into middle age.  Shedtown is a dream born out of quiet desperation. Throughout the series our wooden icon of escape and isolation 'the shed' becomes a symbol of possibility and change; a new community by the sea where our heroes can circumnavigate the mundane, once and for all.  It's the works day out for the workers of Blakeley Industrial Museum - and something's got to change.

Cast:
Barry ...... Tony Pitts
Jimmy & Johnny ..... Kevin Eldon
Colin ..... Johnny Vegas
Diane ..... Suranne Jones
Dave ..... Shaun Dooley
Eleanor ..... Ronni Ancona
Maureen ..... Emma Fryer
William ..... Adrian Manfredi
Nicky ..... Caron May Carly
Yvonne ..... Jessica Knappett
Father Michael ..... James Quinn
Wes ...... Warren Brown
Narrator ..... Maxine Peake
Music ..... Paul Heaton
Sound Design ..... Mike Thornton
Written and created by Tony Pitts
Directed by Jim Poyser
Producer: Sally Harrison
A Woolyback Production for BBC Radio 4.

Shedtown cast outside Unit Base at Robin Hood Bay

We had to record 4 episodes in 4 days across a range of locations, not least of which was finding a shed to record in. Of course we couldn't find a shed by the beach to record in so what did we do, well you will have to wait until next week before the second episode. I don't want to give the game away!

Anyway you can listen to episode 1 on Wednesday 1st June at 23:02 or if you miss it then pick it up on the Radio Player.

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus! on BBC Radio 4

A programme I worked on a while back has just gone out. It really is the last programme from All Out Productions. It is all about how Monty Pyton went over to Germany to make some TV programmes for German TV...

2011 marks the 40th anniversary of one of the Monty Python team's most bizarre and least known television adventures, two forty five minute specials they made exclusively for German television.
Roll up, it's Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus! This is the extraordinary tale of when the Pythons went Bavarian. Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Alfred Biolek, the man who persuaded them to take their comedy to Germany, all talk about how life on set began to imitate a Monty Python sketch.
German Comedy Ambassador, Henning Wehn, tells the story of how in 1971 the Pythons were flown into Bavaria, full of new original ideas for sketches, including pieces about the German artist Albrecht Durer, William Tell and The Merchant of Venice. They also adapted the popular Flying Circus Lumberjack Song into German and planned to sing it with the Austria Border Police Choir.
Only Michael Palin and John Cleese were capable of delivering lines in 'understandable' German. Despite extensive language coaching, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Graham Chapman were virtually incomprehensible. This may have added to the Pythons' trademark absurdity and surrealism, but confused the bejeebus out of the German TV audience. Realising this dream was becoming a nightmare, Alfred Biokek took the decision to make the second programme in English, with German subtitles added later. It proved to be a major hit on German TV, but all concerned decided it best not to repeat the experience. Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus! hears from Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Alfred Biolek about how they came up with the material for these special versions and listening to clips from both programmes, asks whether 'Pythonesque' really works when translated into German.
Presenter: Henning Wehn
Edited: Mike Thornton
Producer: Jo Meek
An All Out production for BBC Radio 4.

We had great fun with this programme adding a number of 'Pythonesque' moments along the way. If you didn't catch it on Saturday then grab it on iPlayer whilst you have the chance. There are some lovely stories of their experiences of their time in Germay as well as the challenges of making Monty Python work for the German humour and how some jokes didn't translate. You will hear that they can still sing the Lumberjack song in German to this day. For any Python fan this programme is a must, and even if you aren't, you will still find it very entertaining.

R.I.P All Out Productions

The Sub 2-Hour Marathon: Sport's Holy Grail on BBC Radio 4

Next Monday 11th April at 8pm sees BBC Radio 4 broadcast a documentary about developments towards potentially being able to run a marathon in under 2 hours. This was one of the last programmes I worked on for, the now defunct, All Out Productions....

Sixty years ago, people said the four minute mile was impossible: in 1954 they all gasped in disbelief when Roger Bannister proved them wrong. They also said the 100 metres would never be run in under 10 seconds and shuddered again when Jim Hines did just that in 1968. Will the 2 hour marathon be the next great sporting barrier to be broken or will it remain beyond human endeavour? The question polarises opinion among athletes, sports scientists and commentators worldwide.
BBC reporter and marathon runner Chris Dennis will explore whether it's physically and mentally possible to run 26.2 miles in 120 minutes.
In the hills around Addis Ababa, the current world record holder Haile Gebrselassie tells him what it felt like to run the distance in 2 hours 3 minutes 59 seconds, how close to the limit he pushed his body, but why he is still convinced the two hour barrier will be broken in the next 20-30 years. Other elite athletes, including the women's marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe and London marathon Race Director Dave Bedford also explain when and how they think it will happen.
The Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru will argue that the sub 2-hour marathon is simply a pipe dream, a landmark too far. The Secretary General of World Marathon Majors, Glenn Latimer, who has worked with many of the world's leading athletes for 30 years also has serious reservations.
Chris also heads to Loughborough to the English Institute of Sport to meet Dr Barry Fudge who gets him on the treadmill so he can experience first-hand what it feels like to run a mile in 4 minutes 35 seconds, the pace required for a sub 2 hour marathon.
Presenter: Chris Dennis
Edited: Mike Thornton
Producer: Jo Meek
An All Out Production for BBC Radio 4.

There are two special moments for me in the programme. The first is when the presenter, Chris has a go at running on a treadmill at the sub 2 hour pace, and manages about 10 seconds, whilst commentating on his own achievement. The second is a sequence towards the end of the programme where Chris interviews a marathon trainer whilst running out in Addis Ababa. I supplied Jo with 2 headset mics so that she could plug them into two  Zoom H2 recorders, one on the Chris, and the other on the interviewee. and then we synced up the two recordings in the edit.
Especially if you are into running, or any sport, do try and listen to this programme as it explores the limits of human physical activity. If you do miss it then find it on iPlayer

Thoughts from the Radio Production in the North Conference

This event goes into my diary as the "must go to" event of the year. Why you ask? For one it is hear in the North West, secondly it is all about radio, and thirdly it is aimed at a growing part of my customer base - the independent radio production sector.  This year the organisers continued their strategy to make it a national conference rather than a regional one and that is great as long as it stays in the region. They also took that expansion and for the second half of the day presented the international view and opportunites for our sector to expand beyond our shores.

We started with a great batch of examples of radio produced by indies in the North and 3 of these examples had been across my hands. Cheque Book & Pen for Woolyback Productions, Merry Christmas Morris Minor for Pennine Productions and I Heart Milton Glazer for the now defunct All Out Productions.

With the conference becoming firmy planted on the national map, the BBC were there in strength with new things to say. We heard from several commisioners Piers Bradford from Radio 1 and 1Xtra, Jonathan Wall from 5 Live, Jeremy Skeet from World Service all outline a much more approachable flexible accessible commisioning system which is long overdue.


We heard from Chris Burns the BBC Audio & Vision Group Manager offering us access to the BBC Innovation Fund, understood to be worth around £500,000. It is designed to pay for ambitious projects which would not form part of the broadcaster’s usual commissioning rounds. She is keen to see more of the fund spent with radio indies. The push follows the extension of her role as the BBC bids to increase its transparency.

The keynote speech came from Time Davie whose is the BBC's Drector of Audio & Music announce a new BBC radio wide streamlined commisioning process.

The plan includes:

• Replacing genre specific preferred supplier list with the introduction of Open Indie Criteria - available to all independent production companies across all of BBC radio
• Launch of a less complex budgeting process
• Confirmation of a simpler system of commissioning rounds
• Introduction of 10 percent Window of Creative Competition (WoCC) across BBC Audio and Music
• Appointment of Chris Burns, Audio and Music Group Manager as ‘Indie Champion’.

Chris's network-wide role will involve liasing with the stations, in-house production and external suppliers to act as a point of contact to “ensure fairness” and adopt best practices. Chris also plans to hold quarterly reviews with industry, with the first taking place in May following Radio 3’s commissioning round to gain feedback how the process can be improved.

We heard from Jane McCloskey BBC's Head of External Supply as part of a session on What Radio Can Do For Telly with Richard Horwood from Channel 6. He made an appeal to the our sector to come and collaborate and get involved in local TV but I remain to be convinced that they aren't just looking for ideas on the cheap. Jane identfied what is good about indies and asked us to come up with big ideas. This is a big ask, because as long as we are a cottage industry it is very difficult to spend the time developing big ideas that might not get taken up. We need a bigger slice of the cake than even the new Window of Creative Competition will offer. Jane also suggested having live web chats with commisioners and channel controllers as a way of improving access for those of us who don't live and work in the South East.

We heard from Steve England and Simon Prentice from S2Blue whose normal time of business is station jingles and making adverts for commerical radio, who told us about how they have done a 12 month deal with Manx Radio  for a 'soap' sponsored the Isle of Man Creamery and called Glen Castle. It became apparent that they are using actors form 'am dram' socities and writing it themselves to make the project affordable which generated a lively debate at the end of the session about not paying people in a 'profit making' making venture.

We had an interesting presentaion from Diane Lees who is Director General of the Imperial War Musem talking about their incredible sound archive and how is is being used. Now I have made some great audio CD projects using this archive that went into books with subjects like Women in War and 2nd World War. It is indeed an excellent resource and they use it in their own presentations too. If you have ever been to the Imperial War Museum North you will know what I mean.

On the international side we heard from Sally-Ann Wilson from the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association outline how they facilitate collaboration internationally but I couldn't help thinking this is fine for the 'state broadcasters' but how can we as small indies make a living in this area. Then is was Lorelei Harris's turn from RTE to outline their new commsioning process which was only formally opened up to indies following their Broadcast Act in 2009. So it is all very new and because of the EU they have to treat any pitch from anyone one in the EU with the same weight as their home grown sector and we heard a varied group of examples of the indie output from Ireland too. Again I have some reservations on how this might work as Lorelei rightly pointed out you need to understand the Irish culture and market to be able to effectively pitch into this market and again how can we when most of us are still functioning as a cottage industry. Maybe another theme that was threaded through the conference might hold the answer, collaboration?  We will see.

Was it worth it? Absolutely, Will I be there next year? You bet!

Fast Train – free training day for TV freelancers May 18th

This is a press release from the BBC that came from an email from my union BECTU

Fast Train, a free training event for TV freelancers, will be held on Wednesday 18 May 2011 at the BBC Academy in White City. This ground-breaking initiative will provide freelancers with the unique opportunity to sample a wide range of high quality professional training from the industry's leading providers. Short training sessions will be provided by the BBC Academy, the Indie Training Fund, DV Talent, VET, NFTS, BECTU, Four Corners, The TV Collective and Skillset Media Academies, with the support of many independent production companies. Skillset will also be on hand to discuss training bursaries and guide freelancers through the application process.

This new initiative, which will be open for up to 500 freelancers, is in direct response to Broadcast's TV Freelancer Survey in which training was highlighted as an important factor in career progression. Of those questioned, 52 per cent listed it as being far more important than professional support bodies, commercial recruitment services or online social networking.

Fast Train will comprise practical workshops, day and half-day courses and short "taster" sessions covering all aspects of production; camera, self-shooting, editing, HD, multi-camera, scripting, legal, digital, cross-platform, social media, H&S, production management, making the web work for you, business, leadership and people skills, editorial policy, pitching and much more.

There will also be updates on key industry issues – such as tapeless production, the BBC's Digital Media Initiative (DMI) and connected TV; leading industry figures will give master-classes on hit shows and, importantly, the day will also provide networking opportunities with commissioners, controllers and indies. 

Lets hope this doesn't remain a London centric programme.

On The Bench on Radio 4

Another programme I finished editing last week was "On the Bench". No not football but all about Magistrates Courts.

This year marks the 650th anniversary of the appointment of the first Justices of the Peace in England and Wales. But many magistrates courts are now facing closure as part of the cost saving measures announced by the Ministry of Justice.  So how valuable is the role played by local magistrates and what impact will the court closures have? Jenny Cuffe has been following developments in Salford where the Magistrates court is one of those on the hit-list. The ageing listed building which houses the court dates back to the early nineteenth century - but the court itself has been involved in current initiatives including special domestic violence courts and a pilot scheme in restorative justice.  As local politicians battle to stave off the closure, Jenny Cuffe follows day-to-day business - talking to magistrates, lawyers and their clients, and assessing the claims of those who say justice needs to be delivered locally. 
Edited: Mike Thornton
Producer: Jenny Cuffe
Editor: David Ross.

This programme takes a look at not only what Magistrates can and cannot do but we hear from some of the people affected by the decisions Magistrates make both defendants and their families. Jenny has a knack at being able to ask the obvoius questions of folk and get them to talk to her openly. There is a ponient moment towards the end where we hear the family shouting to a loved one in a prison van as it drives off to take him to prison.

Do listen tomorrow at 8pm if you can or grab it on iPlayer after the programme has finished.

I Heart Milton Glaser on BBC Radio 4

This is an axcellent piece of storytelling by producers Jo Meek and Gillian Donavon about how the the iconic "I Heart New York" logo came about. It was a lovely programme to have been invloved in and I can throughly recommend trying to catch it on iPlayer before it expires.

It was 1977 and New York State needed a new ad campaign. Crime was rampant and the city's coffers were empty. Businesses (and their employees) were leaving the city in droves, and tourism was suffering. The State turned to Madison Avenue, who, in turn looked to young graphic designer Milton Glaser. Expecting it only to 'be a three-month campaign', Glaser donated his back of a taxi doodle for free; 'it was like one of those things you bang out because it didn't seem to merit any more attention'. Skip forward nearly 25 years, and the I (Heart) NY design remains one of the most recognizable pieces of design in the world. Still cited on licensed and unlicensed merchandise across the city and internationally, it's has taken on a life of its own. In this Radio 4 programme the art critic Alastair Sooke heads to New York to meet Milton Glaser, who is the personification of American graphic design. As Alastair discovers Glaser has designed everything from a 1967 Bob Dylan Greatest Hits Album cover, to the DC Bullet adorning every DC comic for nearly 25 years, yet he still finds himself remembered for the aching simplicity of the I (Heart) NY design. Speaking to some of Glaser's contemporary graphic designers and critics, I Heart Milton Glaser explores a form of art that surrounds us every day and traces our society's relationship with a design that became one of the most iconic images we know.
Presenter: Alistair Sooke
Sound Design: Mike Thornton
Producers: Jo Meek & Gillian Donovan
An All Out Production for BBC Radio 4.

I didn't know that they had reworked the icon after 9-11 and Milton didn't earn a penny for it as he thought it would be a short local campaign.  Alistair is also an excellent presenter and a real pro. When we were recording the links via ISDN into my studio, he delivered just the right amount of emotion into them and so many were first take.

You can also find an article in The Daily Telegraph

Radios 3, 4 and 7 must build reach, Trust review finds

BBC Radios 3, 4 and 7 are to remain on air, but must work to build audience reach while remaining distinctive, a BBC Trust review has concluded.

The reports which are available on the BBC web site go onto to say...

Radio 3
We have set out a number of specific actions for BBC management which include:
looking for ways to make the station more accessible and welcoming

• considering how the BBC can best deliver classical, jazz and world music to all licence fee payers
• considering how the station can help audiences best navigate the wide range of content on offer
• reviewing the levels of broadcast output from the performing groups

For me this is one of the more expensive stations when looked at a per listener at a cost per user per hour or 6.3p copared to Radio 2 at 0.5p peruser per hour.

Radio 4
Whilst Radio 4 is the most expensive BBC radio service, audiences felt that it represents excellent value for money overall. We endorse Radio 4’s strategy of broadening its core appeal where possible and believe that the station should continue to evolve to replenish its audience. In addition:

• Radio 4 should to aim to increase appeal amongst different demographic groups
• We have increased the minimum hours of original documentaries required in the Radio 4 service licence
• BBC management should consider Radio 4’s role in sports coverage. This consideration should take into account Radio 4’s role within BBC radio’s overall sports coverage.
• Radio 4 should consider the balance of its international coverage and in particular, its coverage between Europe and the rest of the world, compared with America.

Although I agree with the lack of coverage on Europe, I do hope Gwyneth Williams doesn't just cut Americana, fronted by Matt Frei. I do enjoy this programme as it shows a different side to American culture to most other reporting channels. The increase in original documentary hours is good news, especialy if they end up in the independent sector.

Radio 7
Radio 7 is highly regarded by a sizeable digital audience who value the light hearted and nostalgic output. Audiences appreciate the opportunity to hear the best examples of radio comedy and drama from the BBC archive. Radio 7 also plays an important role in promoting DAB. However, Radio 7 has very low awareness overall and its dedicated children’s programming is not serving audiences well.

That's all they say about Radio 7 in the summary report.

The summary cncludes with a list of key strategic initiatives which the BBC management have made and the Trust endorses...

• The development of part of its public service archive proposition into what the BBC terms ‘permanent collections’ for Radio 3 and Radio 4. These proposals will increase the amount of archive programming made permanently available on the Radio 3 and Radio 4 programme sites.
• The repositioning of Radio 7 as Radio 4 Extra. However, we will protect the current elements of Radio 7 that audiences particularly value, including increasing the weekly minimum amount of drama and comedy and setting limits around the amount of Radio 4 catch-up programming.
• The development of the children’s audio strategy including the refocus of dedicated children’s programming on Radio 7 to appeal more to families. This will also include the creation of CBeebies pre-school audio available for download from the CBeebies website and the commercial release of children’s radio archive programming for secondary broadcast by third parties.

As a listener I like the increase in permanent collections although dealing with the 'rights' issues would come cheaply I suspect. I do like the idea of making Radio 7 into Radio 4 Extra. Also I agree with the drive to increase the audience profile and encourage more younger listeners, after all these will be the next generation of listeners.

RAJAR figures good news for talk radio and BBC stations

John Plunkett in The Guardian has written....

Talk radio has never had it so good after an unlikely combination of government cuts, England's cricket tour of Australia, snow and the ever-enduring popularity of Premier League football propelled BBC Radio 5 Live and TalkSport to record audiences in the final three months of 2010. The two stations had a combined weekly audience of more than 10 million listeners in the fourth quarter of last year, according to official Rajar figures published today.

So sport is clearly a catalyst for talk radio but actually all the BBC national stations have improved their figures in this quarter....

Every one of the BBC's 12 national radio stations, including the BBC World Service, added listeners year on year. BBC Radio 3 was the biggest riser, up 18.2% to 2.216 million. BBC Radio 2 remained the nation's favourite station by some distance, up 3.5% to 13.943 million listeners, a 16.2% share of the audience, while BBC Radio 4 was up 4.9% on the year to 10.319 million, a 12.1% share. Radio 5 Live had its biggest-ever audience of 7.093 million listeners, up 16.2% on the same quarter in 2009. Not quite such good news at BBC Radio 1, which added listeners, up 6.1% year on year to 11.421 million, but saw its share of the audience fall to 8.8% – down from 9.8% a year ago – as people tuned in for less time.

However the digital stations haven't done so well....

BBC 6 Music, saved from the axe by the BBC Trust last year, was up 63.6% the final three months of 2009 to 1.137 million listeners, but its audience fell back from the previous quarter's record of 1.196 million. Digital sister station BBC Radio 7, which is due to be rebranded as BBC Radio 4 Extra, also saw its audience fall back on the previous quarter, down 10% to 941,000.

The BBC's total share of the audience was 55.3%, stretching its lead over commercial radio to 12.8%, up from 10.8% the previous quarter.

Who will be the new chair of the BBC Trust?

Maggie Brown and  Tara Conlan have written an interesting article in The Guardian today looking at the poltics between the appointment of the new chair of the BBC Trust as the final interviews take place.

On the evidence of the last four years, becoming the public guardian of the BBC may seem tantamount to volunteering for a life lived on a bed of nails. From dealing with own goals including lewd voicemail messages, to public spats with politicians over executive pay and the corporation's funding, and a barrage of negative coverage from the rightwing press, the BBC Trust chairman is rarely out of the firing line.
However, as the final interviews to find a successor to Sir Michael Lyons take place today, it is clear there are at least five keen candidates for what is still viewed as one of the country's most prestigious establishment jobs. After each interview the selection panel is scoring the candidates, and none of them seem fazed by the annual reward of £110,000 – 16% less than the outgoing chairman Lyons earned, for a three to four day week. Lord Smith, the former Labour culture secretary, reckons it is "a very strong field".

However this reminds me of a session at the recent Nations and Regions Conference held earlier this month at The Lowry in Salford just over the water from Media City. The session was entitled "I’m not the Chair of the BBC Trust, Get Me In There!" and was billed as follows...

As Sir Michael Lyons steps down, we invite 3 leading figures to enter the jungle and pitch to be the Chair of the BBC Trust. 

The three 'candidates' were Tom Gutteridge (Standing Stone), Cat Lewis (Nine Lives Media), David Elstein (Broadcasting Policy Group). Although it was to be a bit of fun, the 3 'candidates' did explore not only what they would do if they were 'appointed' as the new chair, but also worked through some of the issues of what the BBC Trust is for and what it should do and I found the session very illuminating. However I was also very frustrated at all their 'pitches', as they all concentrated on broadcast television so at the end of the question session I asked -

"I have held some very interesting presentations today but all I have heard is television, television, and television.  In this age of digital culture of 'many to many', what about Radio and On Line, hello?"

and handed the mic back. They all were clearly a little embarrassed and quickly affirmed the need for public service radio in their summing up of several other questions from the floor  but still none of them mentioned on line and digital. So I do hope who ever is appointed to be the new chair of the BBC Trust for real doesn't just concentrate on broadcast televeison but connects with the 21st century and the various forms of communication models that are becoming rather popular now.

Young Black & Muslim repeated including BBC World Service

I have just re-edited Young Black & Muslim for transmission in the Heart & Soul slot on the BBC World Service.

Young, Muslim And Black (Heart And Soul)

Next on: Wednesday, 12:32 on BBC World Service

Broadcasts

1. Wed 2 Feb 2011 12:32 BBC World Service
2. Wed 2 Feb 2011 16:32 BBC World Service
3. Thu 3 Feb 2011 00:32 BBC World Service
4. Thu 3 Feb 2011 04:32 BBC World Service

The programme originally transmitted on Dec 19th was repeated on Radio 4 on January 17th 2011. It has also had airings on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio London.

Even coming back to this programme nearly 2 months later it was still very interesting that young black people wanted the boundaries that they find in the Islamic faith and a guide to live my that isn't controlled by money or drugs.

If you haven't heard this programme already then do try and catch in on World Service. Remember BBC World Service is available on Freeview 24 hours a day so you can listen to it during the day here in the UK.