EDUCATION: Learn to be a journalist

Alexander Ivanov, March 27, 2009

"It's 2pm In London, three hours ahead in Moscow. This is 'Evening on the BBC'. With this greeting the Russian service of the British Broadcasting Corporation begins each evening's program.

For many, BBC is the standard of unbiased, balanced and truthful information.

To be a student in London and not go to the headquarters of the BBC, would be simply unforgivable. I was lucky - fate offered me a week-long training in the Russian service of BBC.

The BBC is funded by public money, so it remains responsible for a number of useful public duties, often not related to its traditional role as a broadcaster.

In one such public service role, the BBC offers students an opportunity to see and sometimes even experience work in the media. This kind of work is unpaid.

The maximum that such a work placement lasts is a week. But during this time you get to hang the BBC badges, phone in with the announcement: "This is BBC, my name is ..." and watch in the studios and galleries at the time of recording or live programming.

With enough experience or talent you can even try to write cues for the programmes and sites.

News with a human face

My work was in the Russian service of BBC.

The Russian service has two 'antennas' - radio and the Internet. In addition to the news, it produces the very popular Bi-Bi-Seva programme, which offers news with a human face.

The Russian service is different because the work is 'cyclical'. That means that while you do not have a permanent job, your role rotates.

The first and last day I worked in the editorial of Bi-bi-Seva with Seva Novgorodcev.

At the Bi-Bi-Seva, the editors select a number of topics that are discussed in details. At the same time, they try to find out how an international news story affects the listeners of the radio service.

Another main information programme is 'Evening'. On air for two hours, it includes a detailed analysis of current affairs, and focuses on developments in the world,with no particular orientation towards Russia.

The main value

Wonderful people work in the Russian service: friendly and responsive.

On the last day I had an interesting conversation with the editor-in-chief of the Russian service - Andrey Ostalskiy. I’d never thought that I could learn so much in a quarter of an hour.

So now there is a new attraction in London for me – the BBC. Only then comes Big Ben and Tower Bridge!

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