Working for the BBC is the dream for many media students, and one recent De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) graduate has already worked for two of the corporation’s national radio stations.
Leanne Allen, who graduated with a Master’s in Media Production in 2013, landed a job at BBC Radio 1 last summer.
She found herself sitting in on Live Lounge sessions and mixing with top radio names but, after her attentions turned to other projects, she is now helping to produce high-quality drama for BBC Radio 4.
“I started off on the Visualisation team at Radio 1 to bring new audiences to the station and its YouTube channel as a team assistant, but after about two weeks I moved to the iPlayer team,” Leanne explains.
“I was involved in scheduling, where I used the BBC’s specialist software to upload programmes and made sure they went out on time as well as writing descriptions for programmes and other things like that.
“During my time there I got a chance to speak to quite a few of the DJs – Fearne Cotton is lovely – but the best experience I had there was sitting in on Wretch 32’s Live Lounge performance, which was really good.”
Soon though, Leanne’s circumstances meant it was difficult to continue working at BBC Broadcasting House in London.
“I live in Solihull and I was commuting to London every day. Because I am in a wheelchair I struggled to find somewhere suitable to live there and while I could have reapplied for my position at Radio 1 and continued, in terms of making my way to London it wasn’t financially viable and was a bit of a logistical nightmare.
“With the experience it had given me I decided to look for positions a bit closer to home and now I am working for Radio 4 from The Mailbox in Birmingham.”
In her new position, Leanne is working as Production Management Assistant on radio drama Home Front. Set exactly 100 years ago, the programme tells the story of life in Britain during the First World War and is due to run until 2018.
“I work in the studio timing the script as the voice actors read, as well as editing lines and organising things like hotels for the actors. The whole episode has to fit into 12 minutes.”
The drama features a large cast including Barbara Flynn, Toby Jones and Claire Rushbrook. “There are quite a few familiar names that drop in and out, like Rachel Shelley, who is in The L Word in the US and has quite a big fan base,” Leanne explains.
“While I was at university I was more interested in TV and didn’t give much thought to radio at all. But during my time at DMU we were always encouraged to get experience at different places and I spent time in hospital radio at Leicester Royal Infirmary and that gave me vital experience in the industry and got me really interested in it.
“My time at DMU has definitely helped me prepare for my career. The job I am doing at the moment is very much a team-player role and is similar to the way we worked on the course. I’d also say the best thing DMU gave me is a strong work ethic.
“I am always looking for ways to further my career, but I would love to get the opportunity to stay on here until the end of Home Front’s run.”
Zoë Allman, Principal Lecturer in Media Production at DMU, said: “This news is great. Leanne did both the BSc and MSc with us so it has been really great to see her progression through the university and then on into the BBC, which our undergraduate course has links with.
“As well as the specific skills we teach, Leanne also learnt about the industry as a whole with us, plus communication skills and how to present herself. As part of the course we prepare students for work and it is all about transferable skills no matter what they go into.
“I fully support Leanne – she has a positive attitude in everything she does and that’s why she has gone so far. She is a real asset to have as one of our alumni.”
Posted on Tuesday 16 June 2015