Education & Training

The prestigious award, now open to entries, celebrates an outstanding technologist or engineer of the future and accepts submissions from individuals in the early stages of their career across broadcast or its related industries.

Now in its 10th year, this annual event has become a Southern Centre institution.

Some 200 production-based students from regional universities met around 15 media professionals to discuss TV production, opportunities in the industry and career development.

One of the professionals offering advice at the event was Dean Massey, who in 2014 was part of the first batch of students to receive an RTS bursary. Massey, a graduate of Southampton Solent University’s Television and Video Production course, currently works for Sky News as a camera operator/editor.

A packed RTS Futures event, Pitching Script to Screen, offered tips on how aspiring writers and producers should sell and hone their ideas.

Leading the expert panel of comedy and entertainment practitioners was Tom Davis, the star of the Bafta-award winning BBC Three sitcom, Murder in Successville.

Throughout the session he stressed there was no substitute for hard work and that even experienced TV actors and writers like himself never stopped learning.

Davis said that it was important to be “passionate” regarding the ideas you are trying to sell.

Led by former BBC and Channel 4 Head of Drama John Yorke, the Writers’ Academy will offer writers in the early stage of their careers the chance to develop their skills on some of the BBC’s long-running drama series.

The paid scheme will see successful applicants complete an intensive 13-week classroom period, followed by three months scripting episodes of Casualty, Holby City and EastEnders.

Participants will graduate with up to four scripts to their name, and will have their services optioned by BBC Studios for the next two years.

The broadcasting company is offering six training placements for talented TV professionals with a disability, and those from black, Asian, and minority backgrounds, to develop their commissioning skills.

Now in it’s third year, the six-month programme will place applicants into one of the BBC’s commissioning teams, including BBC Two, Arts, Drama, Entertainment, Popular Factual and Specialist Factual.

Communications charity Media Trust has teamed up with ITV News to launch Breaking into News, a nationwide competition to search for ITV’s next up and coming broadcast journalist.

The initiative was founded eight years ago and aims to promote diversity in broadcast journalism.

Fronted by journalists Charlene White and Ria Chatterjee, Breaking Into News is now open to everyone of all ages and backgrounds and welcomes individuals with little or no media experience.

Working as an analyst, said Austin Healey, “Your job is to tell the truth. You’ve got to be honest if you’re on television – people will spot a lie when they’re at home watching.”