Radio 4 university tour in Bedford

Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October 2009, University of Bedford

The BBC College of Journalism ran a series of workshops as part of the Radio 4 University Tour. We held sessions looking at the future of news in the digital world, how to make the toughest editorial decisions and what makes a great journalist.

1) Numbers and the news, with Michael Blastland

Thursday 29 October, 10am - 11.30am

Michael Blastland, the journalist and author of the book The Tiger That Isn't, looked at how the media uses data and statistics. He discussed when it works, when it doesn't and when numbers can be used to mislead.

2) Making the tough editorial decisions, with David Hayward

Thursday 29 October 2pm - 3.30pm

David Hayward, the head of the Journalism Programme, led a workshop on making the most difficult editorial decisions. He took the audience through a series of interactive scenarios, asking what decisions they would make. He then discussed what was right, what was wrong and what sent the producers running to the lawyers.

3) The journalist of the future, with David Hayward

Friday 16 October 10am - 11.30am

David Hayward, the head of the Journalism Programme, looked at what skills the news journalist of the future will need. He discussed how the media world is changing and what that means for the way journalists operate.