A first year combined honours student has got his first experience of broadcast journalism by working on Prestonís community radio station.

Mark Bentley is a mature student studying Journalism with Film and Media. He spent four weeks on placement as a news reporter for Preston FM, which was on its third temporary license on a 28 day broadcast.

He said: ìA friend encouraged me to get involved. I wanted to find out more about broadcast journalism so I went along and loved it.î

All of the reporters were volunteers and worked together to produce a daily bulletin at 6.30pm as well as features covering a wide rang of topics.

Exclusive

ìEach week had a different theme for features. I made one on the punk rock scene in Preston and about a gig the Sex Pistols once played in the area, even managing to get an interview with original Sex Pistols bass player Glen Matlock. I also got an exclusive interview with Reijo Kemppinen, who is the European Unionís representative in the UK and another with MP Peter Hain.î

He said he enjoyed working on a community radio station because it is more personal.

ìWe could get really stuck into local issues and get a lot out of a piece of news because it was for a concentrated audience.î

Mark plans to spend the second year of his degree studying in Utrecht in Holland and in Arhus, Denmark where he will focus on magazine and online journalism.

ìI will work with other international students to produce a cultural magazine and on a journalism website. I think it will be useful to experience a different culture and way of life and also look at journalism in other countries.î

He has previously worked in financial services and decided on a career change after he stopped enjoying it.

Mark added: ìI wanted a career where I could use my interests in popular culture and politics and journalism covers everything.î

More info
Combined Honours Journalism
PGDip Broadcast Journalism
Preston FM

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