Journalism

Ian has worked for more than a dozen BBC (Radio 4 and local), ILR (Independent Local Radio), community and RSL radio stations (as news editor and reporter), cable television (as presenter and reporter and VT operator), national magazines, newspapers, newsletters and websites.  He has also had stories on Sky News Radio, IRN, and the BBC News Channel.

Ian has a BA (Hons) Journalism 2.1 (BJTC accredited) degree and a 100wpm NCTJ Teeline shorthand certificate plus the CENTRA Media Studies and radio/TV production diploma.   Below are some highlights taken from his demo/showreel/portfolio:

LIVE TWO-WAYS

* LIVE ELECTION SPECIAL

Ian took part in a live election special from the Hyndburn count at a general election -- here's a short extract:

INTERVIEWS

* BBC SUNDAY RELIGIOUS PROGRAMME

Ian interviewed American liberal bishop Jack Spong for the BBC for a Sunday programme.  Ian began by asking him what it means to be a "liberal bishop":



* CRIMEWATCH POLICE INTERVIEW

Ian spoke to the detective in charge of a sexual assault allegation who was appearing on that night's Crimewatch programme. A man was later convicted:

LIVE OBs (OUTSIDE BROADCASTS)

* LANCASHIRE FOOD FESTIVAL

In this OB celebrity chef Andrew Nutter enthuses to Ian about Lancashire produce:

PACKAGES

* PENRITH PARKING

Ian covered this story for BBC Radio Cumbria about officious traffic wardens and the problems parking in Penrith:



* BURNLEY ELECTION OF BNP COUNCILLORS

Back in Lancashire, Ian reported on the election of the BNP to Burnley Council:



* ANTI-WAR PROTEST IN THEN FOREIGN SECRETARY'S CONSTITUENCY

Also in Lancashire, Ian covered this demonstration against the Afghanistan war:



* AND FINALLY, THE MODEL BOAT RACE!

Again for the BBC, this "and finally" used a lot of ambient sounds and sound FX.   Ian visited them to see their boats in action on a choppy day:

LINKLESS FEATURES (VERITE)

From time to time Ian has had the opportunity to do linkless features for the BBC.

* RACISM IN SCHOOL

Ian produced this linkless feature for BBC Radio Cumbria. As it is a linkless feature everyone introduces themselves:



* STONEBEE CLIMATE SIMULATOR

This was the first piece of work Ian did for BBC Radio 4 and he says working with the children was fun:

DOCUMENTARIES

* BURNLEY RIOTS

Ian was fortunate, or unfortunate, enough to be working in Burnley at the time of the riots and made a documentary for a lunchtime programme about the "riots" and the ensuing task force and efforts to bring racial harmony to the town.  Here is a five-minute extract:



* DATA PROTECTION IN THE DIGITAL AGE

This was Ian's first ever documentary and is provided here in full.  It's all about the use of technologies and the implications for civil liberties.  It opens with a breakfast show TOH from BBC Radio Lancashire:

RADIO NEWS PRESENTATION

Ian has read literally hundreds of news bulletins but the following extract is taken from the nightly 6pm half hour news programme "The Grapevine" which he presented on The Bee:

TV NEWSREADING

Ian has some experience of this in local cable TV and whilst studying at uni and college. Here is an example of him reading a bulletin on "News Overview" on East Lancs Cablevision local TV news (now Virgin Media):

Stream Video with RealPlayer

NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES

Here is Ian's first ever "front page splash" in PLUTO - the UCLan student newspaper.  It was his first published exclusive investigative report. Here is the story:

View front page splash

His other work has been for national magazines and newsletters.   In the first of these two articles Ian reported on the media's reaction to, and coverage of, the Burnley riots and the "BNP election" for the Press Gazette:

View magazine feature

In another "analysis" article Ian wrote for the Press Gazette he attacked the centralisation of local news into hubs as it began creeping into the radio industry -- before the start of co-location:

View magazine feature

Ian got a news in brief article in WebUser magazine and has featured in the magazine three times.

View magazine feature

Ian has also written for Disability Now and ME Essential magazines, had features in Openmind and Your Voice magazines, and contributed to the News Quiz on BBC Radio 4 - his favourite radio show!

WEBSITES

Please click on "websites" above for further information.

Ian Birch