Friday 24 April 2009
Skills top priority as UK's largest student newsroom opens at Nottingham Trent University
Sir Michael Parkinson will today (Friday 24 April) launch the UK’s largest student dedicated newsroom at Nottingham Trent University.
The new fully digital Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism consists of 85 work stations, three radio studios, two voice-over booths, a six camera TV studio and high speed laser newspaper printing. These facilities will ensure that students will further develop the skills needed for digital convergence in the industry.
Robin Staniforth, director of the Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism, said: “The latest Journalism Skills Survey highlighted concerns that graduates going into the industry are not able to work across a number of different platforms. The facilities available at the Centre, combined with the courses we offer, will mean that our students will graduate with the whole skill set. For example a print journalism graduate will be able to video edit and a broadcast graduate layout a web page.”
After opening the Centre, Sir Michael Parkinson, the University’s recently appointed Chancellor, will be interviewed chat show style in the ‘Sir Michael Parkinson Studios’ by some of the students, before moving on for a tour of the facility.
Sir Michael Parkinson said: “Media graduates are now facing a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive industry. This facility shows Nottingham Trent University’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that their graduates are at the forefront when it comes to employability.”
Guests at the event will also include alumni and representatives from across the media, including the BBC, ITV and Sky.
Notes to editors:
Press enquiries please contact: Helen Fitzpatrick, Press Officer, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8751, or via email: helen.fitzpatrick@ntu.ac.uk; or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8774, or via email: therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk.
