News

Thursday 27 November 2008

Aspiring documentary maker named Guardian Student Broadcaster of the Year

An aspiring investigative journalist and documentary maker has won the title of 'Student Television Broadcaster of the Year', at this year’s Guardian Student Media Awards. Having graduated with a first class honours in Broadcast Journalism from Nottingham Trent University earlier this year, Danielle Couchman’s final year documentary project - which examines the poor standards of academic achievement amongst children from travelling communities - has now earned her a six week placement with Sky News.

Now working as a newsreader and reporter for Arrow FM in Hastings, 21 year old Danielle is looking forward to a bright future with ambitions to pursue her talent for television broadcasting. The documentary that earned her the award is a fact-filled and intimate look at the reasons behind desperately poor academic achievement amongst children in travelling communities. Months of hard work were spent in earning the trust and acceptance of Travellers in Nottingham, before eventually coming to learn and report on the values, beliefs and attitudes that restrict their children’s ability to learn.

Judges for the awards, including Dermot Murnaghan and Kirsty Young were impressed with Danielle’s “ability to persuade a community suspicious of the media to open up in order to report an untold story.”

Danielle said, “The project really gave me a taste for the kind of work that I want to be involved in. I loved making the documentary, I’m really proud of it, and I’m really proud that it’s earned me this award as well.”

With Danielle having narrowly missed out on winning the Press Gazette’s Student Television Journalist of the Year award to a fellow Nottingham Trent University student back in June, Broadcast Journalism course leader Carole Fleming is delighted that Danielle’s work and ability has been recognised by others from the industry.

“It was obvious whilst Danielle was with us that she possessed a real talent and passion for her work”, said Carole. “It was a pleasure to have had her study here, and we’re all looking forward to watching her career grow from strength to strength.”

ENDS

Notes for editors:
Press enquiries please contact: Matt Wallace, Press Officer, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8785, or via email: matthew.wallace@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