Helen Robertson
E-Mail: Helen.C.Robertson@gmail.com

Professional Experience to Date

June -July 2009                   BBC Panorama (Manchester)       

 I worked for the production team compiling research documents, locating archive material, sourcing contributors, and aiding Producers, Broadcast Journalists and production co-ordination. 

April 2009                             BBC North West Tonight (Manchester)

I worked as part of the News team assisting Broadcast Journalists and production staff. Filming, conducting interviews and vox pops, digital editing, sourcing and planning stories.     

March 2009                          Key 103 (Bauer Radio, Manchester)

I worked as a reporter. Duties included sourcing stories and contributors, conducting interviews, making packages, writing and editing stories, voicers and 2 ways which were broadcast on Key 103.

Feb- April 2009                    Century FM (GMG Radio, Manchester)

Reporting and assisting Broadcast Journalists, conducting and editing interviews and vox pops.  

Feb 2009                               BBC Radio Manchester

Assisting Broadcast Journalists, chasing up stories. Conducting and editing interviews and vox pops. 

Oct 2008 – Sept 2009         Key 103 (Bauer Radio, Manchester)

Assisting Broadcast Journalists, chasing up stories. Conducting and editing interviews and vox pops. 

Sept 2007 – July 2008       Student Direct (Manchester)                         

Writing for the University of Manchester’s student newspaper. Duties included writing features, sourcing interviewees, liaising with press officers and building local contacts.   

March 2008                           Insight into Broadcasting and Journalism (Manchester)

 A workshop supervised by BBC social affairs correspondent Dave Guest in which I filmed and reported on a short news broadcast. It introduced me to all aspects of Television Journalism.   

Sept – Dec 2006                  CECIM Magazine (Ecuador)

Researching for a women’s rights magazine. Duties included researching and compiling reports on domestic violence and the AIDS pandemic in Ecuador. I also liaised with inmates at a women’s prison in Quito and compiled a report in Spanish on the conditions in which children were being brought up in the prison.   

Feb – April 2005                 Granada Television (Manchester)

           I worked as a Runner on ‘Too Many Cooks’ and ‘The Springer Show’ at Granada Studios. Duties included briefing guests and production co-ordination.

Education

                                                MA – Broadcast Journalism

BJTC-accredited course which includes training in Radio and Television journalism, media law and public administration.  We have undertaken technical training in Cool Edit Pro/Adobe Audition, Burli and Avid Newscutter. We completed 6-week work placements over Easter 2009 for TV and Radio. I have also independently produced a Radio documentary on British National Party supporters in the North West.

Sept 2004 – July 2008      University of Manchester

                                               BA Joint Hons – English Literature and Spanish (2:1)

Jan 2007 – June 2007       University of Seville

                                                            ERASMUS Student (on University year abroad) 

Sept 1990 – July 2003     TauntonSchool

                                               A- Levels:

                                                English Literature (A), History (B) and Spanish (B)

                                               (AS Levels in English Lit, History, French and Spanish)

                                               GCSEs:

                                               9 A*-B including English, Maths, French and Spanish

Additional Skills

• Fluent in Spanish with an intermediate level of French.
• Fully proficient in Cool Edit Pro, Avid Newscutter, Burli, iNews and ENPS.
• Full, clean driving licence.

Interests

• I greatly enjoy travelling and independently organized a 9 month trip to Australia in 2003 and an inter-railing trip around Europe in 2006. I have also visited Singapore, the US and South America and have lived in Spain.  
• I also enjoy theatre, film and I write fiction short stories in my spare time.

Referees

Melanie Hill                                        Julia Shaw

Assistant Producer                                              TV Module Leader

BBC Manchester                                                  School of Journalism, Media and Communication

Scanner Hall                                                         University of Central Lancashire

New Broadcasting House                                  Preston

Oxford Road                                                          PR1 2HE

Manchester                                                         

M60 1SJ                                                            

Telephone: 0161 2443658                              Telephone: 01772 894738