#2015interns

Week 6 I was working with the visualisation team on a cassette boy style project about a certain politician doing Watch Me by Silento (I can’t say any more as it’s not out yet). My role was to find and cue up footage for the editor to cut, so it was mostly scouring the internet for the right footage, which I must admit wasn’t the best job I’ve done during my time here, but you’ve got to work as part of the team and the project potentially could do really well for the station. I also got to talk with the editor and suggest creative ideas, and seeing the finished project be as good as it was made the hours of speeches worthwhile.

This week I’m working with the online team on Live Lounge month, and so far I’ve been researching artists and writing content for article pages, which is something I’m quite used to doing for music blogs so i’m enjoying it. There should also be the opportunity to get involved with some of the filming which would be very interesting.

For the second two weeks I was working with Nick Bright show team on 1Xtra. This was really interesting as they were in the middle of planning and executing an Outside Broadcast from Manchester. So on top of learning how a 1Xrtra day time show is produced, I also got to experience an outside broadcast.

I was effectively acting as a Team Assistant, which is the first radio job most people will have. The standard duties are producing regular features, doing research and making things like coming up montages. You also have to call people who want to go on air for a feature and vet them / inform them of all the compliance. There is a certain knack to the questions you have to ask to find the best callers and it’s best to just throw yourself into it.

The Manchester show was a great experience. Nick’s into his sport and his girlfriend is Katarina Johnson-Thompson, so the show was a special broadcast to mark the beginning of the World Championships of Athletics in Beijing with BBC Sport. Linford Christie’s Street Athletics was also there with a 60m running track to encourage under 20s to try running, and there were live performances from R.I.O and MiC LOWRY. My duties were to back up all the schedules and beds/idents on USB, research the athletes who would be competing on air, and then document the event on Snapchat during the day. 

It was a really good hands on learning experience of what a Team Assistant has to do and adapt to, as well as simply a fun event to be part of. Plus I got to meet Linford, the man’s a beast.

I spent the first two weeks of working on specific shows at Newsbeat. The first thing to note is that the hours are pretty tough. You have to be in with enough time to read up before the 8am meeting, which is where the agenda for the day is initially decided. Obviously if something comes up then you adapt to it throughout the day, bit this meeting is when the main stories are picked. You then work through till 6.15pm because they do a debrief after the 5.45 show, so it’s a 10 hour+ day.

The work itself is great though. Most of my duties were doing research for and the writing of online articles. I’ve done a lot of student journalism, but working with that team taught me a lot about brevity and the sharpness of your writing. Two of the articles I wrote also managed to make it to the BBC homepage which was cool. I also spent one day out of the office assisting on a story, and helped with other on air stories by contacting people and doing research.

The highlight had to be when I actually got a story on the air. I noticed an article about the first western student to study in North Korea and pitched it to the editor. He told me to chase him for an interview and schedules meant that I was the only person who knew the story and had the time to do the interview. The next day I edited it and turned it into a package with the help of a producer (turns out the tone of the voice over bits are really hard to do). 

My two weeks at Newsbeat were pretty tough, but very rewarding, and I also got something sweet for my portfolio too, so I’d definitely recommend it to other interns.

A snapshot of what I’ve been up to so far! 

It’s our last day!

I feel like I should be handcuffing myself to a radio desk so I don’t have to leave. But I’m not actually sad; this is just the beginning. I’ve found my home here at 1 and 1Xtra, and I’m going to work my behind off to make sure I’m back here one day soon.

Jade asked me who I’d miss the most, and it’s the people. They’re wonderful both at what they do and as human beings as well. No question you ask goes unanswered, and more often than not, there’s a follow up task so it sinks in.

What advice would I give to anyone who wants/has/gets a place on the Where It Begins Intern Scheme?

Binge on 1 and 1Xtra.. Know them inside and out. Be that radio obsessed geek you know you are. You ain’t fooling anyone.

Have lots of ideas. What works? What doesn’t? What do you love? How could that work for a 1 and 1Xtra audience? It’s so easy to think, “But I don’t have any ideas, I’m not creative!” For starters, you created that thought. So there. Just go for what is obvious for you: it may not be obvious to someone else, but if it is, then you’ve got a platform to springboard off of!

Ask all the questions in your brain. Everyone has to learn, and there is not one single person at Radio 1 & 1Xtra who doesn’t believe that.

Own it. Imposter syndrome gets everyone at some point. When I started,  I had moments of “they picked the wrong girl, I’m not good enough for this.” That’s not true. Own your passion, own your geekdom, own the fact that you’re learning and you want to be a sponge for radio knowledge. You’ll ace it.

 Big love,

Alysha xx

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So the time has come! It’s all over =(

But for some reason I’m not sad but more excited and curious as to what the future holds, I’d like to think this really is “Where it Begins”.  

My time here has been a combination of hard work and so much fun.

One of my biggest highlights of being here was definitely working toward the launch of the Words First project. As a poet I was so happy to be involved and to be able to show people what I am capable of and what I do. I was given the huge task of taking 20 different poems from 20 different artists and stringing them together to make 1 cohesive poem around the theme of ‘Searching’ chosen by George the Poet. It goes without saying that it was challenging but it really paid off! The poets done a great job performing it at the launch, and I felt like a proud mom!

My second highlight is also poetry related, I got the chance to write and record a trail for the Words First project, and it made it on air!

My third highlight would definitely have to be working alongside Sarah-Jane Crawford and the rest of her amazing team. Not only was it so much fun but I also learnt a lot by participation and observation.

I would highly recommend this scheme to anyone who wants a career in radio. Remember, always express your creativity in your application!!

I will miss being here so much but I hope to be back one day, fingers crossed for the future!

 Love, Jade xxxxxxx

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Alrighttttt?

 So our internship is drawing to a close, and whilst I'm really sad this experience is coming to an end, I know that this is just the beginning of such an exciting time.

 Some of my highlights over the past 8 weeks have been:

- working on the legend that is Fearne Cotton last few shows

- being a part of DJ Targets production team every friday

- getting to be involved with Radio 1's academy in Norwich and Radio 1's big weekend

- sitting in on some of my all time favourite shows such as Mistajam and Charlie Sloth

- working on Clara's new slot on Radio 1

- shadowing the 1Xtra Music Team and sitting in on playlist meetings

- meeting everyone and making so many friends along the way

 Honestly, I'm not kidding or exaggerating when I say this has been the best two months of my life. Whilst it has been some of the hardest work I've ever done, I have thoroughly enjoyed every single moment I've had on the 8th floor.

 I would highly recommend, if you are thinking about a career in radio, that you apply for this scheme next year. I have learnt so much from just sitting and watching, I've also grown as person. I'm more confident and less shy than what I was back when I started.

 I can't wait till my next visit to the magical place that is Radio 1 & 1Xtra.

 Love from the baby of the interns,

Dana

💖💖💖

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Hello. Con here.

Time is up on the internship and I’ve had a lot of fun, as well as learning lots. Whilst I’m here I’ve worked on with the Official Chart, 1Xtra Breakfast and The Matt Edmondson Show as well as all sorts of little side projects!

I’ve learnt plenty to take from this placement including on air clips which I’m proud to say that I’ve written and produced. The people here at 1 and 1Xtra are so friendly and encouraging; it’s a great place to work. If you’re reading this as you’re considering of applying for the internship, do it! If you have any questions about applying, feel free to tweet me @ConMend.

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And as a final note from all of us: a huge massive endless thank you to the amazing, the fabulous, the one who is as stylish as she is talented (bucket loads fyi) Angie Pitt. She’s been our proud Radio 1&1Xtra mum (which is amazing seeing as she’s 21 years young). We love you lots Angie, thank you for everything xxxxx

Yoooo!

It’s Dana here, and what a week it’s been! 

This week, I started working on my two weeks on DJ Targets show. On last weeks Friday show, DJ Target had DJ Ace in the studio for the Back2Back mix, where they were both shelling down some old school UKG. The vibe in the studio was amazing with everyone just skanking out!

In preparation for this show, I had to do some research on DJ Ace, and a few of the tracks on the schedule, I helped out with the social media with collecting all the tweets and creating this lovely lil collage;

Also, I got the incredible opportunity to select the Targe Menage tracks for last week’s show. Target Menage is one of DJ Target’s Friday night show features where Target plays 3 slow jams back to back and gives everyone the chance to shout-out THAT special someone. I’m so extremely thankful to be trusted with choosing those three tracks, where one of em may have got a cheeky pull up ( which apparently has never happened during Targe Menage :O )

You can listen back to the selection at around 2:34:00 here

Another thing to happen this week was Radio 1′s Big Weekend! 

Us interns have be so fortunate to get to work at Radio 1′s Big Weekend and it’s truly something I’ll never ever forget. One of my highlights of the weekend was FINALLY getting to see the incredible Raury live! 

(Also I think I may be in girl band with a few of my fellow Radio 1 peeps after Big Weekend; see our official pic below)

Thats it from me!

Speak soon lovely people!!

Happy Bank Holiday Monday!

We’re all fresh back and shattered from an absolutely amazing weekend. Just in case you missed it, it was Radio 1′s Big Weekend in Norwich.

During the day, we were working in the BBC Experience Tent, where you got a chance to play around with some BBC Radio & TV stuff, like sitting in The Voice Chair, counting down the chart and doing your own mini radio show. 

I was mainly running the chart countdown, and we actually had some real talent. One little kid will be the next Grimmy, I’ll bet dollar on it! All the cheek and the sass coming from him, I loved it!

But at 5pm, we said goodbye to the work, and hello to the music. I managed to catch Years & Years, Fall Out Boy, Florence & the Machine, Muse, Youth Club (definitely got on their video for “People” singing like a right fan girl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8MGmXjYleg), Taylor Swift and the Foos. 

Taylor was definitely a highlight, there were about 20 of us all rocking out to Shake It Off at the back of the crowd, if you spotted people dancing like there was no tomorrow, that was probably us!

It’s amazing how much work goes into a live event; from people dedicated to checking every member of staff is in, has food vouchers, radios to communicate; set designer; set builders; people filming; people deciding what should go out on tv; people editing; people looking after DJs/talent; catering; clean up; security; live broadcast teams; people listening for swear words so we can make sure they don't happen on air; recording the music... and that’s just a few off the top of my head! Everyone works so hard in their own little teams to make such a big event happen, and I think it pulled off as a total success. Not one person who worked/attended the weekend won’t be tired as anything today.

Brilliant weekend, but I’m off to soak my aching feet (heeled boots seemed like such a good idea at the time...)

Oh and here’s a picture of me and Danny Howard after he stole my flower crown...

Big Love,