Page 36 - The Bellfort - Summer 2015

value and researched and fact- demonstrated a particular tal- checked their stories. ent for presenting and they had the pleasure of being selected A dedicated production team to attend BBC studios in Belfast from the BBC in Belfast, who for three days of broadcast lead an engaging and inspiring training. The girls got the one-day workshop, supported chance to take part in various the pupils. The pupils practised roles involved in news produc- their script-writing and inter- tion in order to prepare to ‘go view skills with guidance from live’ on the news programme th the producers, and everyone on 19 March. got the chance to present and interview on camera. The girls showed tremendous If you had control over the poise and kept their nerves un- news, what would you report? In addition, Miss Poole ar- der control, despite being the The efect of education budget ranged an insightful and inspir- youngest in attendance. Such cuts? Charity events in school? ing talk from renowned and was their consummate profes- The addictive qualities of the well-respected media profes- sionalism, that both pupils re- phenomenon that is Crossy sional, Michael Beattie. Both ceived well-deserved praise Road? These are some of the the School Report group and from the programme’s produc- stories Dunclug pupils reported members of the senior school er and director. online when they took over studying journalism, media and BBC news for the day on Thurs- performing arts all beneftted th day, 19 March, 2015, alongside from his words of wisdom. almost 1000 schools across the Pictured: Media expert, Mi- UK. chael Beattie. BBC School News Report is a project that allows pupils aged 11 – 16 the opportunity to expe- rience the journalistic process; to research and create news reports on topics that matter to them and broadcast to a real Pictured: Rachel McGall, audience. presenting on live television. A group of year 9 pupils formed The project increased pupils’ teams and in the run up to Na- awareness of current afairs, tional News Day, they generat- Two of the group, Rachel particularly issues in the local ed ideas, decided their news McGall and Robyn Telford, and school communities; devel- oped their journalistic and edi- torial skills; honed and polished their presentational skills and highlighted the need to work efciently and accurately when working to a tight deadline. 36