Visit to BBC Bristol 23/11/2007

Last Friday, myself and 4 fellow students took a trip to BBC bristol to see the people involved in creating the BBC's daily local news show, "Points West".

We started off in the main offices for all the staff, which was bustling with people. Everyone from the reporters to the technical crew to the presenters have desks in this room. It was a very frantic place to be, phones ringing, people chatting and shouting things to one another, handing over information and you could tell as soon as you entered it was a very busy place with a constant work flow coming through.

First of all, we were introduced to the weatherman, Richard Angwin, who surprisingly had a much larger work role than i would have first thought. He told us that he not only presents the weather on a daily basis but is responsible for cutting up the information given to him, into a local format and creating the graphics to go with the report. The weather report is also the piece, the news team has to either cut or extend depending on how time constraints are going, so if the news runs 30 seconds under its predicted time, the weather report may be extended with a weather report for local events.

Richard Abgwin - BBC Points West Weather Reporter

We then had a chat with the a guy who deals with some regional news for the web and ceefax. He constantly searches and waits for news to come in from web sources and reporters, and then checks the information and corrects any mistakes using a super spell-checker, before uploading it through the BBC servers onto the website or ceefax. He also has to decide what news items should go up or come down and issue them into priority order. It was amazing how quick it was uploaded and after making an update, showed us where it had gone onto the website and ceefax.


Our host then escorted us into Radio Bristol which was surprisingly quiet. There was a reception area with a single receptionist and three surrounding studios, one of which was in use. The host, Steve Yabsley, spotted us watching him through the window and much to my horror, beckoned us to come in. So i played it cool, and almost forgot who i was and what i was doing there on live air, much to everybody else's amusement. The host then thanked us for filling in a couple of minutes he had to kill off and we moved on to an empty studio next door, where nobody could get me, and spoke to an off-duty presenter who showed us the basics of the studio. This had a simple control desk that had a large "play" and "stop" button on it, along with mixers, and cd, mini-disk.etc players for on air music.

Steve Yabsley - BBC Bristol Radio Presenter

There was also a few lights above the studio door and we were told of the obvious on-air red light, a light for emergencies and a blue light that would only flash when someone very important had died, such as a royal family member or the prime minister, and all on air activity would be cut when this happens, for all broadcasting to go onto that issue.
I also noticed that there was a cd attached to the wall and the host told us that it was an emergency pack of a few cd's that could be played in case of a major emergency.

We were then taken into the "points west" studio, which i noticed was surprisingly small, compared to how I'd perceived it from watching it on television. The sports sofa, the presenters table and chair and the projection screen for the weather were all in much closer proximity of one another, than i expected.
What also suprised me was the size of the cameras they were using. They were mounted on fully mobile stands, which moved with unpredicted ease and the cameraman was able to move them around easily with one hand. We then met the presenter, Chris Vacher, who didn't really have time to talk with us, unfortunately.

Chris Vacher - BBC Points West Presenter

Finally, as lunchtime dawned, we were taken into the gallery. The room basically had one wall of television screens, which contained very large screens with much smaller ones surrounding. The producer seemed to have the most, with what each camera was seeing, plus what was happening live with the main news. It was quite strange to see the presenter, sitting in the chair while off air, having a laugh with the people in the gallery and shuffling around seconds before it cut back into the studio, where he assumed a very poignant stance and spoke very well.
Something i think that shocked Chris more than anyone else, was the way they pre-recorded the headlines with the presenter about 5 minutes before they went live, which were then replayed a few times throughout the show as an introduction.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience to see how the BBC production teams work and a surprise to see the sheer amount of coordination and communication that it takes to put a show like that together.

Photos

The Points West Studio

A Close up of the cameras used, with the presenter in shot

Newsdesk: On-Demand Alliance

The BBC, Channel 4 and ITV are going to launch a joint on demand service, bringing together hundreds of hours of programming. The service will go live in 2008.
The service is waiting for the go-ahead to plan from The BBC Trust as well as other major share-holders.
The BBC's iPlayer, ITV's catch-up and Channel 4's 4oD will continue to exist, along with the new combined service.
Free streaming, download, rental and purchasing of programmes will be available.
John Smith, the chief executive of BBC Worldwide, said the venture was a "historic partnership" between the BBC, ITV and Channel 4."The new service will contain some of the very best of the UK's content for consumers to view in one place, which will be both easy to use and great fun," he added.
For Channel 4, chief executive Andy Duncan said further innovation in the area of on-demand would "give viewers ultimate control over what they watch and when they watch it". "Partnering and sharing expertise is the best way of doing this," he added.

Newsdesk : Producer - 23/11/07

News In The Media From This Week:

• BBC jobs cuts. Huge job cuts are to be made to Current Affairs and Political Programmers, in order to fund the new digital age.
  
• Amazon releases The Kindle, a wireless digital book, that can store newspapers, full books and documents.
• The BBC are set to release The White Season, a season of programmes concentrating of the white working class today and where they fit in, with possibly controversy on the line.
• Channel 4 are working on a new reality TV series in which a diverse group of people spend 3 weeks living as devout Islamics. Another one that may cause controversy.
• The BBC have licensed Australian, State-Owned broadcasting company SBS with the rights to create they're own version of Top Gear and has plans to license more internationally.
• Also, according to new studies, the UK's use of broadband is at an all time high, with the use of dial-up connections on the verge of dying. Check out the statistics here.
• And according to new surveys, it seems many children are choosing to sit on the internet, rather than turn on the television.
  

Researcher Job Spec.

Genre - Factual/Historic Entertainment

Working Area - Bath/Bristol, South West

Contract Duration - 9 Months

Application Deadline - 9th November 2007

Salary - 14,000

Job Description - Researcher, A Saxon Bath
BBC Bristol
9 Month fixed term contract / Attachment

We are looking for an experienced researcher, preferably with experience in historic programming to develop programme ideas and historic knowledge to be presented to decision makers. You'll have to quickly establish a rapport with production and contributing personnel and be able to access varied information using contacts and a variety of different sources.

Aim of the job

After being briefed by The Producer, you will carry out detailed historic research and check contributor availability and arrange times for interviews.etc to be shot.

Key Responsibilities And Professional Knowledge And Skills

• Be able to originate and develop programme ideas, using your own knowledge.
• Be able to understand industry requirements and to quickly gain confidence of key talent and nurture it.
• Be able to quickly research and check facts and present your findings to decision makers.
• Must be able to work within relevant legislation and regulations.
• Have a good understanding of the BBC and the ways in which it works.
• Be able to identify relevant data, contributors, locations and archive materials and compile them to meet the requirements of the producer.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Advanced analytical skills.
• Precise attention to detail and methodical approach to work.
• Ability to conceptualise ideas.
• Ability to think visually.
• Initiative and problem solving skills.
• Endless energy and determination.
• Advanced IT skills.
• Diplomacy and sensitivity when working with writers, producers, actors, presenters, other contributors and crew members.
• Current knowledge of the relevant legislation, regulations, and associated procedures, including Copyright, Data Protection, Public Liability, etc. and how to comply with regulatory requirements.
• Knowledge of the requirements of the relevant Health and Safety legislation and procedures.

Typical Work Activities

• Meeting with producers, directors, presenters and writers to discuss the research needs of a programme.
• Generating new programme ideas.
• Sourcing and researching facts, figures and information using the internet, film and tape archives, specialist collections, picture libraries, museums and government departments.
• Conveying findings accurately to others in report form and briefings.
• Updating scripts and editing news reports.
• Researching and booking appropriate people and locations.
• Booking resources, facilities and freelance staff.
• Providing administrative support, such as typing, answering the phone and dealing with contracts.
• Briefing scriptwriters and presenters on topics.
• Sourcing copyright for literary and music sources and gaining clearance for any materials used.
• Negotiating broadcasting rights.
• Tracking down film, archive and video tape.
• Finding interviewees and conducting initial interviews.
• Finding members of the public for a vox pop response to current events.
• Directing a small shoot and doing straightforward editing.

Roles of tv production

Executive Producer - Supervises one or more of the producers. Often the big cheese of the business and creative side of the production. He also checks and manages the budget.

Production Executive -

Boom Operator - Works under the sound supervisor/production mixer to achieve the highest quality of sound recording.

Sound Recordist - Also called production mixers. They ensure that high quality sound is achieved constantly.

Lighting Director - They design the looks required for each shot, using a script or brief from the production team. They design and set up, with the help of the lighting department. specialised lights and accessories.

Gaffer - Head electrician. Keeps all the electrical elements flowing and does repairs.

Director - Responsible for the look and sound of the media. They interpret the writer's visions.

Associate Producer - Performs some producing under the authority of the producer and often if charge of day to day running.

to be continued..



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_crew#Producer
http://www.skillset.org/tv/jobs/technical/article_2788_1.asp

My Media Consumption

Tuesday 30th October
TV - 1 Hour
Pc/Internet - 4 Hours

Wednesday 31st October
TV - 30 mins
PC/Internet - 2 Hours

Thursday 1st November
PC/Internet - 4 Hours

Friday 2nd November
Mp3 Player - 2 Hours
PC/Internet - 2 Hours

Saturday 3rd November
TV - 3 Hours
Games Console - 4 Hours

Sunday 4th November
PC/Internet - 30 mins
TV - 2 Hours
Games Console - 30 mins

Monday 5th November
Mp3 Player - 1 Hour
TV - 3 Hours

Tuesday 6th November
PC/Internet - 6 Hours
Mp3 Player - 30 mins

I do not have a television at university at the moment but watched my flatmate's earlier on in the week. I traveled home on Friday until Monday so was able to access my TV and Games Console. I Mostly use the internet at university for browsing, chatting and gaming. I listen to my Mp3 player when traveling to and from university.