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Vive la Teesside!

22 June 2005

 

Recent graduates from the University of Teesside have crossed the Channel to take part in a special French radio project. Radio 4 (not BBC Radio 4) is a long established French community radio station which is providing the opportunity to broadcast English speaking news and information for UK tourists, expatriates and second-home owners. The Radio 4 team hope the service will see Britons getting more involved in French life.

The station is based in the town of Villereal, about 20 miles south of Bergerac, and the new project is led by former University of Teesside Radio Production lecturer Geoff Sargieson. A radio expert of some 25 years experience, Geoff is a former Managing Editor of Radio Humberside and Radio York, and has also worked as a producer for Radio 2 and 4. He will be joined by two groups of students and graduates from the University of Teesside and the University of Sunderland.

Each group will spend a month in France. The first group includes University of Teesside Media Production graduates Fran Calvey and Chris Johnson and Aimee Rowlands in the second. Working in teams, these rookie reporters and producers will be putting together news, weather and traffic packages. They'll also be getting out and about to interview French locals and English-speaking visitors, and producing a "What's on" round-up for tourists.

Geoff said: “The idea for English language news and information on French radio originated when I was on holiday in South West France some years ago. At the suggestion of the Director of Programmes of the nearby local radio station, I worked with a friend for a few weeks compiling and broadcasting an English language early morning news bulletin for the station. The response from both English and French listeners was gratifying and I resolved to return one day and provide a more comprehensive service.

“The project will also provide invaluable work experience for the media graduates taking part and I hope it will help them secure jobs in the radio industry.”

To find out more about the range of Media courses at the University of Teesside, call 01642 384019.


 
 
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