News
Summer Taster Course Full
Up To Speed's Summer Taster course is now officially full. Sixth Formers from all over the country are coming to our training centre on the South Coast for a fun introduction to reporting for print, audio and video.
We are already taking bookings for next year's Summer course and also for the fast-track courses students can take in their Gap Year.
Contact us on 01202 667863 to make your booking.
Up To Speed With Investigative Reporting
Investigative reporter Lynn Morris shared the secrets of some of her recent scoops in a fascinating talk at Up To Speed.
Lynn explained how she used the Freedom Of Information Act to obtain unpublished official figures on juvenile crime, police injuries and local authority spending on public relations.
She has successfully used the technique to dig up exclusive after exclusive for the Bournemouth Daily Echo.
The students at Up To Speed have all studied the Freedom of Information Act in both Media Law and Public Affairs, but Lynn was able to explain the practical steps reporters have to take to identify areas for investigation and to frame questions which will produce results.
“Lynn’s talk was inspirational and it showed that with imagination, initiative and patience reporters can find out what is really going on in our communities,” said Course Director Tom Hill.
Up To Speed Students Celebrate 100% Exam Pass Rate
Up To Speed's trainee reporters have shown they are made of the write stuff this week. They all passed one of the NCTJ's toughest challenges, the News Writing exam.
And there was a double celebration for one trainee. Matt Rowley heard on the same day that he had passed the 80wpm Shorthand exam with a score of 100%.
You will soon be able to see more of their work for print and video on our news website www.poolepeople.co.uk, which is relaunching in the next few days.
CNN Role For Up To Speed Gapper
One of Up To Speed’s Gap Year trainees is half-way through a prestigious six-week internship with CNN.
Zara Bilgrami completed her five-month NCTJ Fast-Track with us in February.
Speaking from CNN International’s London Bureau, Zara said: “This has been a wonderful opportunity and I am sure it would never have come my way if I had not had my NCTJ Prelims under my belt.
“It is fascinating to see how an international news desk operates. People work incredibly hard, everyone has a real sense of duty and it is amazing to be part of the team. I’m loving every minute of it.”
Zara, 19, is planning to spend the summer travelling across Russia and China before taking up a place to read Social Anthropology at the London School of Economics in October. She hopes to freelance while she is there.
Up To Speedsters Get The Video Buzz
There’s been a buzz of excitement around Up To Speed’s offices this week as our Fast-Track students turn their hands to video journalism.
The all-important News Writing exam is behind them now and they are learning how to tell stories for the web.
Up To Speed was the first fast-track centre in the country to offer these key multi-media skills to our trainees. Online Journalism is taught by the former News Editor of ft.com, Liisa Rohumaa, while video is taken care of by Course Director Tom Hill, who has worked for ITN, Sky News and the BBC.
You can see some of the video stories made by our students on our news website www.poolepeople.co.uk/video and on Up To Speed’s Video Journalism Facebook Group.
Citizen Shane Interviews Ken Livingstone
Up To Speed's Dan Shane hit the ground running on his work placement at the Ham and High and found himself emulating Jeremy Paxman on day one at the paper.
"Interviewing the Mayor of London is perhaps my biggest achievement as a journalist so far," said Dan. "The prospect of meeting Ken Livingstone was quite scary at first, but armed with my knowledge of Public Affairs, I managed to make the most of the experience."
"Ken even managed to make a few jokes and slip in some digs at his Mayoral opponent Boris Johnson which I eagerly jotted down in shorthand."
Reporting From Ecuador
Up To Speed's Alexander Shaw was one of the first British journalists on the scene of the tragic bus crash in Ecuador.
Alexander, who now works as a journalist for The Ecuador Reporter in Quito, interviewed survivors, witnesses and police sources to compile his piece.
You can read his work at www.ecuadorreporter.com/The_Ecuador_Reporter/Home.html
Teen Reporter Gives Uni and Chip Shop The Chop
Hard work, enthusiasm and a Gap Year gamble have paid off for Laura Herbert, who is swapping a part-time job in her local chippy for a coveted career as reporter on a busy evening newspaper.
Laura, 18, was talent-spotted by the Reading Evening Post before she had even completed her NCTJ Preliminary Certificate at Up To Speed.
When Laura came to Up To Speed in October she had three A Levels and a deferred place to study journalism at university, starting in October 2008.
"I quite fancied the idea of uni, but what I really wanted was to become a reporter," said Laura.
Laura studied four days a week at Up To Speed, but went home to Berkshire every weekend to work at the chip shop. She started her Gap Year by keeping her options open, but wrapped on the idea of a degree course as soon as she was offered her dream job.
"I am starting two days after my nineteenth birthday and I am so excited," said Laura.
"It's amazing to realise that it is possible to become a reporter without having to pay three years of tuition fees to get a degree."
Up To Speed's Political Correspondent
Within a week of completing his final Public Affairs exam at Up To Speed, Ryan Jennings is working as a political reporter.
Ryan landed a job with agendaNI, a leading public policy magazine in Northern Ireland.
"NCTJ at Up To Speed prepared me exceptionally well," said Ryan.
"I have already felt the benefit of the numerous news days we had throughout my time there."
Ryan joined Up To Speed in October after graduating from Newcastle University.
Video Journalism Course
Up To Speed's next Video Journalism training weekend will take place on May 17 and 18 at our training centre on the South Coast.
You will film and edit two stories over the weekend using mini dv cameras and Final Cut software.
Call on 01202 667863 to book your place or apply online.
