TVFutures looking back at the class of 2015

Charlie Watts

Author: Charlie Watts

Published 14th June 2016

In a review of the academic year, KitPlus looks back over all of the contributions from students (and staff) and asks for one last comment 'with an eye to the future'

Charlie Watts - Course Leader - TV and Broadcasting

#TVFutures is a brilliant way for students to evaluate their current situation and really articulate important moments of learning and experience to a reader. The ability to reflect on learning and ability is really crucial to everyone, whether they are in education or not, and the opportunity to have that presented in a magazine feature is a golden moment for those that go for it. If I were to reflect on the past academic year I would suggest that the course team have succeeded in building a realistic, rigorous and challenging TV experience, and although it has been gruelling at times for both students and staff, it has also been very much worth it. We seem to be meeting our aims, and our success in graduate employment alone is starting to really speak for itself.

This year we took the decision to stop building and expanding the platform that we call Creative and Cultural Industries Television, CCI TV for short, and to simply let students use it as intended. The student experience is paramount to everything we do, and I think the following statements add a nice touch and conclusion to a very successful year€¦

Katie Still - Deputy Course Leader - TV and Broadcasting

When our students reach their 3rd year we expect their programme making to begin to come together in terms of broadcast quality, technical understanding and storytelling. We all know that broadcasting can be a demanding profession, and for the students learning how to do it, there are even more bumps along the way! But I watch how they learn from their mistakes and the satisfaction they clearly derive from good teamwork; that 's when we know something is working well. It 's rewarding to read some of their reflections on their time with us...

Oliver Ray - featured in KitPlus Issue 111

For me the highlight of the Television and Broadcasting course has been independently creating my own documentary. It has been a chance to explore and test what television and personal skills I have learnt throughout the duration of this course. Being a small production crew was a stressful, busy experience. But the rewards are great - it was heartwarming to get close to our subject and learn from them too. In the future, I would love to work for a big television company in the UK or abroad or be able to produce my own creative pieces for television. Currently I haven 't set my sights on any particular role that I would like to do because I enjoy all aspects of creating television...the multi-skilling message has made sense to me.

Safiya Pomell - featured in KitPlus Issue 108

This last year of Television and Broadcasting has been my favourite yet. It has pushed me to challenge myself and develop new skills throughout the year specifically learning more about marketing in TV. This was due to my CCITV manager role and final year project. It has given me a better understanding of how important marketing can be in Television whether that is executed through promotion, advertising or digital marketing. It is about utilising the available platforms in order to engage with audiences. My final year project gave me an opportunity to work independently challenging myself to be disciplined, confident, make industry contacts and overall has given me a better idea of my chosen career path upon leaving the University of Portsmouth in Television marketing.

Ryan Jenkins - featured in KitPlus Issue 109

It 's hard to pick something out specifically that would be the highlight of my course experience. I think I would say the overall fast paced busy nature of the past few years. Being able to gain additional experience in professional environments working with varying clients and solving issues both technical and creative. This past year however I have pushed myself to try new things that I would otherwise not get the chance to, such as producing a show for our group. This was challenging but has proven to myself that my organisational skills have gained momentum and given me greater confidence when taking on more than one project at one time.

Emma Cox - featured in KitPlus Issue 106

Over the past three years, I have had so many incredible opportunities and experiences, so it 's difficult to pick just one highlight. Though, I would say my final year project was particularly rewarding. I had the chance to take on the role of TV Channel Manager and Scheduling Coordinator for CCI TV, and explore an area of the broadcast sector that has always fascinated me. It not only forced me to work independently and make contact with industry professionals, pushing me outside of my comfort zone, but it also made me realise what I am capable of achieving. The most rewarding part of all was having successfully produced a series of guidelines for the channel, in hope of implementing industry standard TV scheduling practices in the near future. Overall, my time at the University of Portsmouth has been invaluable, and with the help of my lecturers and course mates, I have grown in confidence and feel ready to start a new chapter as a soon-to-be graduate of the Television and Broadcasting course.

Jonathan Quinn - featured in KitPlus Issue 105

Although there have been times of great stress and panic, they are equalled by the reward and relief of finishing a project and having something you can look back on and feel incredibly proud about. My two highlights from my three years are completing a documentary that I put countless hours and effort into and the opportunity to broadcast live from the Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing Headquarters. Both of these opportunities presented massive amounts of issues, stress and lots of late nights but also gave me a learning experience that is second to none and that I will never forget. My three years on this course have gone by far too quickly, but I wouldn 't change a thing.

Alex Watson - featured in KitPlus Issue 107

As I reach the end of my second year of BSc Television and Broadcasting, it has just started to sink in as to how fast my time at university is flying past. It seems like no time at all since I wrote at the end of my first year about how much I value the fact that the course allows me to spend all day working in an area I love. This remains true this year, in fact the last two years at the University of Portsmouth really have been the best.

It 's hard to pick just one stand out moment from this year, as there have been so many great experiences but I think getting to produce a live programme that was broadcast on the Big Screen Portsmouth in Guildhall Square was great. Seeing the culmination of so many months of hard work broadcast online and to Portsmouth 's locals was brilliant.

I 'm looking forward to having another year on the course, getting to further develop skills that will prove useful when I 'm working.

Gemma Frith - featured in KitPlus Issue 113

My most memorable moment from the past year was presenting live from Land Rover BAR in Old Portsmouth. It was fantastic to have the opportunity to present from such a picturesque location. This was the first outside broadcast I have ever worked on and it was so exciting! By setting up and broadcasting live from an unfamiliar location, we were definitely all put out of our comfort zones. However, in addition to it being my first outside broadcast, this was also the first show I 've worked on that was filmed using a 360 camera. It was amazing! I 'll be honest in saying I didn 't even notice the camera during the broadcast - it 's a lot smaller than I expected and, with all the excitement of the day, it didn 't even cross my mind to look out for it - but being able to watch the show back in 360 degrees was fascinating! Definitely my new favourite piece of kit.

Danielle Wiltshire - featured in KitPlus Issue 111

Through the sweat and the tears of final year BSc Television and Broadcasting there has been achievement and success. Through my experience I believe being able to produce Live broadcasts on a weekly schedule was my highlight. Understanding what it is like taking on a responsibility not just for yourself but for your group. It has made me understand my weaknesses and strengths and has persuaded me that I love working within a fast paced environment. Another great highlight was the chance to advance on my skills and qualify as a PADI media diver. That experience will always be in my top 5. Overall my time here has been valuable it has taught me what I need to know but also has given me the push to learn what I want to know. Hence from July, I cannot wait to start my journey in the world of Broadcasting.

Aislinn Fadian - featured in KitPlus Issue 108

Throughout the past three years at university, having had many unbelievable opportunities and experiences, it has been difficult to choose but one would be creating and producing a documentary in my final year. As all the time and effort was worthwhile seeing the end product, this documentary 'Roofless ' taught myself a lot about the industry and society, all the problems that occurred and issues we dealt with and the overall process has been an incredible learning experience I won 't be quick to forget. As well as the documentary there has been many highlighted moments, one being the 'social networking manager ' for CCI TV, (a student run Television channel) something having enjoyed thoroughly through the year, learnt a lot about digital media, and hope to continue down this path in the future.

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