The Media School

News & Events

Journalism Graduate is BBC World Cup Producer
Mark Cole tells us about life on Match of the Day

BBC Match of the Day producer, Mark Cole, is a Bournemouth BA (Hons) Multi-Media Journalism graduate, currently working on the broadcaster's World Cup output in Germany. We spoke to him the day before England's disappointing World Cup exit.

Bristolian Mark (29) has worked for the BBC for more than seven years and is presently a producer for flagship shows Match of the Day and Football Focus.

He came to Bournemouth aged 18 and in three years successfully completed the industry-accredited BA (Hons) Multi-Media Journalism course. Literally the day he finished the course he embarked on his career, initially working for one year at Sky Television, with whom he had undertaken a six-week work experience placement whilst still a student.

Cole says that the main appeal of the course was that it was practical, giving him the chance to get the skills needed to work on the job. He firmly makes the point that established broadcasters such as the BBC appreciate the industry accreditation that his degree carries with it, and that the university's reputation is renowned.

Mark is currently producing the BBC's World Cup coverage, working alongside Alan Hansen and Martin O'Neill.

"The reputation is good and also the links with NCTJ. You have to have that sort of journalism training really. People you speak to, you say Bournemouth and there's that association with the media."

He maintains that what has helped him the most is that as a student he had the opportunity to make radio and TV pieces before actually looking for a job in the industry.

Cole has found his degree has prepared him well for his career time and time again. "I was just thinking at the World Cup here: in 1998 on our final radio project day it was one of the World Cup game days and we were doing our radio production and linking from the studio. We had live updates of the Scotland v Brazil game that was going on. And then eight years later you're actually at a World Cup. It's enlightening."

He firmly makes the point that established broadcasters such as the BBC appreciate the industry accreditation that his degree carries with it.

Cole has been working on the World Cup coverage in Germany for six weeks. Other assignments have taken him to even further-flung places like Australia, where he last year spent two-and-a-half weeks working on a piece with cricketer Andrew Flintoff, followed by trips to Pakistan where he acted as an outside broadcast producer on BBC Sports Review of the Year. He has worked on transmissions of golf tournaments, too, previously producing the US Masters output.

"The travelling is probably the best part of the job," he says. "It is quite hard being away from home for so long but if you're young and enjoy the travelling then it's good fun. There's a nice variety to the job - you're not doing the same thing, day in, day out."

But he does admit the job can have its stressful moments: "When you're doing a programme like the England game against Ecuador - you know there's twenty million people watching back home. But you learn to deal with it really. The people we work with are great, they understand. The important thing is communication."

And, just like the subject of his degree, the industry he is working in is increasingly multi-media: "We work quite closely with the online and radio teams. We're moving more towards that and I think that makes more sense in terms of resources."

Just like the subject of his degree, the industry he is working in is increasingly multi-media: "We work quite closely with the online and radio teams. We're moving more towards that."

So, what does Cole make of his more well-known colleagues, the football pundits and presenters? "The other day, we had a link with Leonardo, who'd won the World Cup with Brazil. You just pinch yourself when these sorts of things are happening."

And for students hoping to follow in Cole's foot(ball) steps? "If you keep writing enough letters eventually one might end up on the right desk and the right person might open it. It can never hurt to do as much work experience as possible, too."

Just like England's chance of ever regaining the glory of '66, persistence, according to Cole, is key.

Story by Natalie Harrison
MA Multi-Media Journalism

Related Courses

The Centre for Excellence in Media Practice