Scottish Media Academy

I wish to reflect on the great opportunity I was involved in at the Scottish Media Academy course as I gained a lot from it. From my perspective, it was very insightful and I was honoured to have met so many interesting people with unique ideas. For me there was never a dull moment.

The room always had a lively and upbeat atmosphere with lots of discussion which made me feel comfortable. It gave me a chance to get involved and develop my skills, especially in talking in front of my peers. It definitely boosted my confidence and I presume it did for others too.

The course ran over five days, where we were taught about: TV terminology, radio, print journalism, interviewing and presentation skills. Marianna Taylor from the Guardian taught us about the media side in print journalism, also highlighting how writers structure their pieces. I was delighted to have met Marianne as I had previously read some of her articles.

However perhaps the most exciting thing was that we got to make a radio show of our own and have it recorded in a studio. It was exciting, fun and a pleasant experience. To prepare us for this, we were to practise in front of a camera, presenting our own mini stories which boosted my confidence and my skills. It was effective as I didn't feel nervous when we were recording.

Personally, I found the TV session very informative. When watching the news now, I notice camera angles and mentally go over why they were used and what effect they have. In addition, I now recognise camera shots like panning, mid-shots, voice overs and more. I learned about ad-libs and how the presenter has no script when on air, sometimes which I found interesting.

Also in the studio I learned how things operate. To me it all seemed very demanding but I came to realise it's not as hard as it may seem. I was taught how to write stories and how to interview people professionally. I learned many things all thanks to the Scottish Media Academy.

Chloe Wright