Trainee multimedia journalists hit airwaves in Ireland for innovative training

midlands 103 Amelia Averis and Lily Buckley

The first two trainee journalists to take up our unique multimedia news career programme have moved to Ireland in the latest radio phase of their training.

Amelia Averis and Lily Buckley have begun working for Midlands 103 in the next three month stage of our inaugural programme launched to allow new journalists to gain experience of working across Tindle’s media businesses.

In a groundbreaking opportunity, our companies created a combined two-year Multimedia Reporter training course to offer the chance to learn the skills needed to produce content by working across newspapers, podcasts, news websites and radio broadcasts.

With offices and main broadcast studios in Tullamore, County Offaly, Midlands 103 is a local radio station dedicated to providing feel good content. Serving the communities across Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and beyond, it is a trusted voice and companion to 113,000 weekly listeners.

Since arriving at Midlands 103, Amelia and Lily have been recording and producing news packages for the Midlands Today Show. They have produced content for the station’s outside broadcasts, in which they visit different towns to meet locals and find out about the history, culture and heritage.

The stories included meeting with farmers about the issues they faced due to severe weather and heading along the River Shannon to see flooding and how it impacted locals, businesses and farmers. On a lighter note, they recorded a package on a local production of the popular play Calendar Girls.

Outside broadcast

Lily did a live link on air from a shopping centre as it hosted Go Purple Day, which raises awareness of domestic abuse and the support services available, while Amelia attended the Irish Rural Link Conference, focussed on young people, where she produced a news package for Midlands Today.

Sinéad Hubble, Head of Content Development, says “Amelia and Lily have fitted into the Midlands 103 team from day one. They are energetic, enthusiastic and have taken on every challenge we have thrown at them.

“It is easy to see they both have bright futures ahead of them. Their time with us gives them a unique opportunity to hone their craft.”

The move to Ireland comes after Amelia and Lily spent time at our Jersey radio station Channel 103 to get a grounding in broadcast journalism.

Amelia said: “Ireland has been, something completely different. Although it is radio, it is a change from our work in Jersey.

“We are focusing more on long-form packages, longer interviews, and more content to edit. Our workload is really diverse and dynamic, and no day is the same.

Work experience

“We have been travelling a lot to create packages on different towns for our community broadcasts.

“I have been given responsibility for a 40-minute documentary which is something I am excited to get started on. It is another friendly and brilliant office with great mentors and talented co-workers.”

As well as on the job experience, the trainees are undertaking the NCTJ’s Diploma in Journalism via distance learning.

Amelia and Lily began work with the Mid-Devon Advertiser last August to gain three months of working within a local publishing business, at the start of training to become qualified journalists followed by time spent with our central digital news team.

Following their time at Midlands 103 they will have another digital stint. Afterwards they will spend 12 months specialising at one centre.

Amelia and Lily were chosen following a nationwide recruitment process for multimedia candidates launched last year.

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