With its ability to reach a global audience, Radio is a powerful media tool. Whether listeners switch on for news, current affairs, documentaries, entertainment or music, it has been a source of information and excitement for generations and its significance looks set to grow.
At the University of Chester we offer a dynamic, exciting and hands-on Radio Production degree. The opportunities our students gain by immersing themselves in this medium has meant that our graduates have been able to find key jobs in radio stations around the UK, and in many other media related careers.
To get a feel for Radio Production at Warrington, take a look at what we’ve been getting up to over the past few months.
Students get tips from industry experts
Since October 2015 a number of influential speakers have been dropping in to talk to our students to give them a greater insight into the radio industry. Guests have included Mike Cass: Network Content Director for Bauer Radio; and Radio City’s Steve Hothersall. We also saw the return of some familiar faces, as past graduates Chris Rick: Content Director at Radio City; and Danny Bates: Breakfast Show Producer at Radio City and Bauer Network Producer, also visited the campus.
Talks focused on a number of hot topics in the world of radio. Bauer Radio’s Editor-in-Chief and multi-award-winning journalist, John Pickford provided some useful advice on how to stay safe on air and basic broadcasting law, whilst another University of Chester graduate, Richard Maddock, who is now Commissioning Editor at Radio 5 Live, focused his discussion on radio documentaries and the commissioning process. These guest lectures are an integral part of the course, and have proved invaluable to our students for giving them advice on possible career routes and how to get there.
The Cat Radio Awards
Planning and preparation is underway for the annual Cat Radio Awards. The categories include: Best Male, Best Female, Best Newcomer, Best Show, and Best Producer. Each of the entries will be judged by industry experts, and a number of key industry figures have been invited to talk at the event before the ceremony.
The award winning Cat Radio is the University’s own student run radio station that broadcasts around the world. In fact, the only place it hasn’t reached yet is the Antarctic! With this fantastic facility on campus, you’ll have every opportunity to gain practical hands on experience making or managing programmes in a real life work setting.
We are excited to annouce that the station has just been nominated for the Best Training Initiative at the I Love Student Radio awards. The winners will be announced at the Student Radio Conference in Cardiff at the end of March.
From past student to Programme Leader
Michelle Ponting is proof that a degree in Radio Production at Warrington can open up doors to a whole range of exciting careers.
Since graduating from the University of Chester in 1999, Michelle has enjoyed a successful career in radio. During her 13 years as a broadcast journalist at Manchester’s Key 103, she collected a number of industry awards – including a nomination at 2014’s O2 Media awards, and the award for ‘Best Interview’ at 2015's IRN awards. Having taught as a popular visiting lecturer in our Department for several years, she is now Programme Leader; a position she took on last September. Discussing her plans for the coming years, Michelle explained:
“I’ve been meeting with some key contacts in the community - including the Warrington Wolves and Culture Warrington - and expect the students to do some excellent work with them. I've also booked a number of industry guests to talk to students at every level of Radio Production. It’s going to be an exciting year ahead."
But don’t just take our word for it…
Former student Georgie Sullivan explains how her time studying Radio Production at Warrington helped her land her dream role as broadcast assistant and studio producer at BBC Radio Oxford:
"University helped me in the industry by teaching me the basic skills in radio production and journalism. We covered every aspect of radio production, including music, speech and management, which allowed me to discover exactly how I wanted to use my passion. I also really benefited from the work placement module in my second year, where I spent three months at various radio stations. One of these was at the BBC, an opportunity that was advertised internally at University. I think having this on my CV was crucial for getting my first BBC interview at Oxford.”
Want to find out more?
For more information about Radio Production at Warrington, take a look at the course page on our website.
Contact us
If you have any specific course queries, please feel free to contact Programme Leader Michelle Ponting.
E: m.ponting@chester.ac.uk T: 01925 534356
For general enquires regarding studying at the University of Chester please feel free to contact us, we’ll be more than happy to help.
E: enquiries@chester.ac.uk T: 01244 511000
Visit us
If you would like to find out more about this course and see what it is like to study and live at the University of Chester, take the opportunity to visit us. And if you have any questions about your visit, we’ll be happy to help.
E: visitus@chester.ac.uk T: 01244 511000
