Students win placements with the BBC to further radio careers

Three De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) students are set to get an insider’s view of the BBC after landing placements during the summer.




BBC Radio Leicester has offered studio time to three presenters from Demon FM radio station - John Alexander, final year, BSc Audio and Recording Technology, Tobi Gibson, final year BSc Music Technology and Matthew Rimmington, second year Music Technology student will all be spending time at the broadcaster, honing their production and presentation skills.

BBC Radio Leicester and DMU have been working on placements for the past three years. Students have to submit their CVs and be invited to a final interview.

As part of their degree, they each spent three weeks running a radio show, finding, recording and producing news features and different interviewees every week.

Their coverage included features on the Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival and the De Montfort University Students’ Union elections, hosting debates with each of the candidates to help students make up their mind.

“I’m looking forward to spending time at the BBC and find out how the professionals do it day to day,” said Tobi, a former session musician. “Radio is probably one of the few mediums left where everything is live and goes out as it happens. You have to think on your feet.”

John said he discovered his passion for radio while studying the course and was looking forward to two weeks at the station. He said: “It’s a great opportunity to get the experience and to see how the BBC plan their coverage and what they do.”

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Simon Walsh, programme leader for BSc Media Production, is thrilled with another set of Leicester Media School students gaining further opportunities with BBC Radio Leicester: “There is a great relationship between the LMS and BBC Radio Leicester – the UK’s first ever BBC local station – and it’s fabulous that another three of our students will benefit from this experience over summer 2016. John is definitely ‘one-to-watch’, and both Tobi and Matt have got very promising careers ahead of them.

“Doubtless some valuable BBC experience will help crystallize the potential in each of them, and drive them forward as they build their futures.”