This week, BBC Kick Off Trainee Sports Reporters are sharing their stories of their time on the scheme with colleagues across the BBC. In a special blog post, BBC Kick Off Trainee Scheme producer Rachael Smith introduces two reporters who've benefited from their traineeship.
The BBC Kick Off Reporter scheme is designed to bring diverse talent into BBC Sport teams, looking for people who have a passion for sport and a desire to find out more about sport reporting. The reporters, who are based in radio stations across the UK, Channel Islands and Northern Ireland, volunteer over eight-weeks with the BBC to gain experience as a sports reporter.
Two of the reporters and a mentor shared their experience of working with BBC Sport this summer.
Stacey Copeland
Stacey is a Kick Off Reporter for BBC Radio Manchester.
I was reluctant to apply since I’m not a journalism student; in fact I’m not a student at all. I am a boxer with a full-time job, and no background in media.
From my first day I loved every minute. Hearing my first interview on air and seeing the content we published on social media was a great feeling. Knowing that I had been involved with the process from start to finish gave me confidence. Suffice to say, I couldn’t wait to do it all again.
The scheme has made me realise what a huge collaborative effort is involved with delivering local sports coverage. Everybody on the team brings their own area of specialism. Shadowing different members of the team not only allowed me to learn from experienced experts, but also helped me discover what I’m most passionate about.
Gary Armstrong
Gary is a Kick Off Reporter for BBC Scotland.
I had never previously contemplated being driven around Knockhill racing circuit by the British Touring Car Championship’s Champion driver. Yet, all of a sudden I was thrust into the passenger seat with a microphone and given the low-down on every turn and every harrowing hairpin bend as Gordon Shedden raced round the track.
Later that evening, my 350-word piece was live on the BBC Sport website, and my interview with Shedden would go out on BBC Radio Scotland the following morning. You get a sense of pride that your work is instantly available to everybody who might have an interest in it.
I was asked at the beginning of BBC Kick-Off what I wanted to get out of my two months on the scheme. My answer was that I wanted to learn the tips and tricks from the journalists who do this day in, day out. The people who make it look so easy, yet continuously deliver informative and engaging content as it happens, to the Scottish public, that’s what I’ll take from my time here.
Gareth Jones
Scheme manager Gareth, has mentored with BBC Kick Off for six years.
I just found it really inspiring to see how keen people are to be at the BBC and see how much it means, it reminds you of why the BBC is special.
And for the reporters, they don’t come to us because they want to do filing and making people cups of coffee, they get to go out and do everything - it’s so hands on, you’re doing what sports people do and we want to bring people through to carry on working in the industry.
Rachael Smith, Broadcast Journalist
- The BBC Kick Off Trainee Sports Reporter scheme is part funded by BBC English Regions and BBC Outreach.
- Watch and listen to the Kick Off reporters in action via the BBC iPlayer Radio page.
- Follow the #BBCKickOff hashtag on Twitter.
- Get the latest updates by visiting the BBC Kick Off Facebook group.
