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 Being a Today Reporter
If you've ever listened to the Today programme reports and thought "I can do that", you might want to drop us an email with a story you want to report for the programme.
A Today programme reporter will be at two more of theÌý sessions this summer, and will help turn a listener into a journalist - in a DAY!
Local artist Dan Savage was our listener/reporter for the Tall Ships' Race in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Listen again to his report by clicking on the listen again link to the right.
Michael Badger was our listener/reporter at the Great Yorkshire Show at Harrogate.
Scroll down the page to READ his account of the day.
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WHAT YOU MUST DO
- Have a good story.
- It should be NEW,Ìý that means most people won't have heard it before.
- It should be of interest to other TODAY listeners across the country.
- It should be a story that can be reported IN ONE DAY, at or near one of the events where the 91Èȱ¬ News on Tour sessions are happening. (See the list below),
- Pitch it to us.
- Keep this short and sweet. Pithy and to the point.
- Think about WHO you would interview, WHAT you would want to say, WHY it's important, HOW you would tell the story, WHICH sounds you will use to make it interesting radio.
Email your idea to Today@bbc.co.uk. AND indicateÌýthat it's for Anglesey
PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS SO WE CAN GET HOLD OF YOU BEFORE THE DAY
WHAT WE WILL DO
- We'll choose from the emailsÌýwe get (don't be too disappointed if you don't get a reply - hundreds of people will be writing in), and get in touch.
- A Today reporter will show you how to record your interviews and sounds and put a report together for broadcast the following day.
If you're interested, the last date and venue that we'll be recruiting a listener reporter will be:
August 9-10: Anglesey Show, Ynys Mon.
See the webpage.
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Dan Savage, a local artist became our reporter for the day in Newcastle Upon Tyne for the Ghost Ship project that coincided with the Tall Ships' Race.Ìý
See his pictures and listen to his report HERE.
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Reporter for a day with "The Today" Programme, Radio 4 - Great Yorkshire Show - Harrogate
The President of the British Beekeepers' Association suggested that I make a submission as "reporter for a day" in respect of the proposed reductions of services provided by DEFRA to beekeepers. The text was sent by email to Polly Billington on the previous Sunday. For my sins I am the Vice-Chairman of the British Beekeepers' Association and also a Senior Steward at the Great Yorkshire Show.
Sometime late on Monday evening I was told by Polly that I had been selected as "reporter for a day" and that I should report to her 07-45am the following day at the 91Èȱ¬ on show studio for a briefing. Having never won a competition in my life, this news came as a big shock and was approached by me with immense foreboding. My apprehension of being involved was soon dispelled upon meeting my producer Polly. She put me at immediate ease and assured me "that it would be all right on the night" to quote a well-known expression. Polly was without doubt a very self-assured professional individual combining charm, tact and pragmatism that gave me all the confidence to proceed without further ado.
Once my briefing was over, we settled down to work out a structure of the production, as we had to work to a brief of 150 seconds that would be broadcast. My main concern was to get the message across to the public that did not come over as one continuous whinge. Here is where Polly's experience and professionalism came in. A quick sketch of the main players who would be affected by these cuts was drawn up. The emphasis quickly panned out that the wider the areas affected, the greater the impact. An extensive tour of the showground to root out the people best to illustrate the case was made. Extensive discussions with the DEFRA press office were made together to draft a press release that it would be happy with.
The day passed quickly, bee sounds obtained, people interviewed; drafts typed, edited, retyped, the sound recordings edited, drafted and re-recorded and by 1900hrs we were almost there. We were down to a finished article of 2 minutes 57 seconds. The production team would love us as we had shaved off half a minute of our allotted time allowance.
At 1945hrs our efforts were sent down the telephone line to the Today studio in London. Next day with me introducing, our production went out on air at 0745hrs. The following day Lord Bach replied live to our production promising a full consultation exercise through to 2008 when the final decision would be made as to whether the cuts would take place.
The role of "reporter for the day" was most exhilarating. The adrenalin ran. We had met our deadline with me at the point of collapse. Looking back, I would not have missed it for the world.
Michael Badger MBE "Reporter for the Day - The Today Programme"
 Back to Reports 91Èȱ¬page
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