Indian Correspondents on Course at BU

27 July 2007

Media correspondents talk with BU vice-chancellor Paul Curran on Campus

Ten broadcast journalists from across India will spend three months studying UK television journalism methods.

We’ve welcomed broadcast journalists from across India for a special three-month summer school.

The group of 10, selected from over 100 applicants, all work in Indian television and hold senior positions as bureau-chiefs, on-air correspondents and presenters.

They are visiting BU’s renowned Media School during the first year of a three-year Enterprise Project funded by Foreign Office/British Council Chevening Scholarship Awards.

The summer school involves a range of staff from the Media School, as well as former BBC journalist Gail Foley as guest tutor.

Other speakers from the BBC, ITV and Ofcom will attend throughout the course to give the group an opportunity to study UK television journalism methods. They’ll also help them make contacts with a range of UK-based political and social institutions.

The scholars will visit regional and national television broadcasting organisations and spend one month on placement in UK television news and current affairs.

David Bradshaw, Head of Journalism in the Media School, and project director, said: "Winning this contract in competitive tender is a tribute to the reputation of the Media School for high-quality professional journalism education, exemplified by our highly successful BA and MA Multi-Media Journalism and MA Magazine Journalism programmes.

"We are sure that our Indian guests will learn a great deal about UK broadcasting during their time with us and we look forward to many fruitful debates on the issues facing TV journalism today."

Gordon Cooper, the Media School’s Head of Enterprise, said: "This project is a good example of how the University is extending its global reach and helping develop the UK’s knowledge economy.

"Areas such as India and China are keen to collaborate with us and the presence of a group of Indian opinion formers at BU can only help that process."