I’ve seen the MediaCityUK’s Media City promo DVD when I was at BBC Radio Lancashire. I was assured that the BBC would NOT be moving workers from London to Manchester and that job opportunities would be open to local people. Are Salford or Manchester University students, who are from London originally, classed now as local because they live temporary in Manchester & Salford?

Such a proposal looks exciting for us com reporters who have the heart and are not “university degree clones”. It does look like the BBC are looking for real local ordinary folk, who, with help and encouragement (esp. from the Job Centre + & Connextions), could contribute talent and creativity.

Yet, I find that Job Centre Plus (plus what?) is not interested in anyone being trained for 2011 - only that they get them off the dole. That’s the impression I get, anyways. How do people keep the Job Centre off their back while training, when the Government has took people’s freedom away and forces them to do 15 hours over 5 days, sat in a dingy rundown office  sifting through papers, to be forced to do the worse lowest paid job ever  or “..you’ll lose your benefits if you don’t apply for it”? That’s reality. Those 15 hours could be best spent learning, developing and engaging in new technology training to work across multi-media platforms. Why doesn’t the Government help those people to gain skills and really learn and develop those gifts, instead of being more interested in vote-grabbing unemployment figures and using the money for new fitted kitchens in their second homes?

What real skills are developed and what qualifications do people actually gain from this partnership?

The clock is ticking towards 2011 and I’m interested to see how MCIN & the BBC can help those, who are volunteering for free like me, get into media paid employment. Not just for MediaCity, but the rest of the media industry throughout the UK. It takes 1 year to study an undergraduate course in Journalism and 3 years after that for a degree. That takes us to 2012 by my watch. Still, handy for Newsround.. and how, exactly, does community reporting fit in with the rest of CBBC?

Then there’s WFA Media, plenty of skilled students come out of there. Adult Learning Centre, Manchester University, Man Met University, Salford University, MANCAT, Manchester College, North Trafford College, Loreto Sixth Form College and let’s not forget North West Vision & Media trainees as well - all skilled students, all wanting jobs at MediaCity. That’s not including Tameside, Oldham, Bolton and Stockport Colleges.

I don’t want to be still volunteering in 2012, still claiming benefits, while all the jobs at MediaCity are taken up by the above.

If the BBC have come up with a tangible viable practical way for those of us who are volunteering in the community media sector to break into the media industry, then I’m all for it. If its just an exercise in community relations, then what’s the point?

When the BBC informed me that they were committed to looking for local people with a heart for media production and “not university clones” I thought, ‘great - now show me!’

If its true, then it’s brilliant and that means they can have talented people, some who maybe dyslexic but creative.. those that are not able to gain a degree but can put sound & voice clips together with digital effect and make a great trailer or news report.. and those who might not have a GCSE but has a good personality that can “tell it as it is”.

If it’s just hot air, then we should get our license fee back for the next 10 years.

Henry Winkler, who played the Fonz in the US sit com “Happy Days”, has dylexia. He now writes children’s books and is the founder member of Children’s Action Network. So, this guy proves that given a chance you can make it.

BBC Local Radio & North West Tonight have staff already and paid placements are given to.. you guessed it.. university graduates - community reporters only get a tour.

I have a BA Hons degree in Contemporary Film and Video from Manchester Metropolitan University. While at university I did some work experience on Spooks. Since graduating I have built up my experience, working within the industry on various productions.

There were nearly 500 applications for 22 places across the North of England

My placement is split: 6 weeks on North West Tonight (regional news for the BBC) and 6 weeks on The Cup for Hartswood films; a comedy shot in an ob doc style, set in Bolton about the lives of the parents of an under 11’s football team.

http://www.northwestvisionandmedia.co.uk/page/amy-somers

The BBC say they are not looking for “university clones”, you don’t have to have a degree to work here. Mmm… maybe that memo hasn’t reached BBC Manchester yet!

Trust: Trust is the foundation of the BBC, we are independent, impartial and honest.

CBBC would probably want talented children, computer animators, runners and researchers. So this leaves BBC Formal Learning in which we would have a chance to gain any employment, in my opinion, in MediaCity. The production houses already have their staff. Cosgrove Hall (Danger Mouse) are moving from Charlton to Salford, perhaps even make a new animation series called “Salford and The Wheelie Bins” to celebrate the move.

Doing radio and community reporting has helped me to practice and develop skills. However, I found that this may not be enough. I still need to learn more to get into broadcasting.

Community reporting is only one of the multi-media platforms along with video camera work, video editing, taking audio from timelines, posting images and writing updates, sound editing, researching, producing trailers and ads - all within BBC guidelines and basic values.

After returning from BBC Radio Lancashire, I found that I needed to gain a qualification -  even though I have the skills. Yes, I do need some more training to come up to BBC standards. Community reporting for MCIN was a step in the right direction as it shows that I am ready for the multi-media age. It does help you get to the next step and found it, in itself, is a good practice ground for honing your skills. A show case to prove I can do it. But, now I must move on and apply for a recognised qualification and learn.. in fact, you never stop learning in the industry.

What I am really saying is, I believe com reporters still need to further develop our skills through education and training or placement schemes. Com reporting is a good platform for seeing if you have a skill in web reporting and updating. The practice is good in developing, the more you do the more you flow. But, is it enough to get paid employment at the BBC in MediaCity in 2011?

Hands up if you know how to operate a Z1 camera? Me neither! Write a treatment? Extract audio from Avid?

It does look promising, Gary, developing “clear pathways into the BBC and the wider industry” and I’d like a closer look at this as 2011 approaches. It does look like a step in the right direction and is good for a starter. I would like to see these “pathways” to work work and see the BBC really helping us volunteers towards training and industry recognised qualifications or a paid full time career.

“This partnership has helped raise the aspirations of the local community reporters who feel that they have a real possibility of working at the BBC or in media.”

Gary Copitch, Director of MCIN

Local? To Salford or Manchester as well? Is BBC Manchester giving us local (Salford & Manchester) community volunteers placements, paid or unpaid? If the BBC are committed to taking on local talent, without university degrees or distinctions from acting schools, then how do we find the jobs they say they will give us?

Is there really a real possibility? Even though I’ve seen MediaCityUK’s promo DVD, I’m still not totally convinced - unless you’re a 14yr old.

This is an extract from an email from Sophia Rehman, Editorial Administrator, Talent & Diversity, Commissioning Management at Channel 4:

Diversity Production Training Scheme – TV and New Media

Opportunities nationwide

We’re on the lookout for new voices. Talented people who are keen to spend 12 months with either a TV or new media production company, building the skills they need to launch their careers. The important thing here is NEW voices. Which is why this programme has been created for those who think they might never be able to break into the industry. There could be a hundred reasons why: you may be disabled for example, or from an ethnic minority, or perhaps you’ve never seen the inside of a university. Maybe you believe that your age could cause those doors to slam in your face. Whatever. The important thing is that you can bring ideas, energy and real passion. In return, we’ll bring you every opportunity to shine.

 What you get:

Training and experience. Lots of it. You could be developing story ideas for Skins, joking with Justin on the Friday Night Project or flirting with Gordon on the FWord. You could even be whipping up widgets for one of our websites. That’s the kind of thing you can look forward to during your year. Of course, there’ll be on-the-job learning when you’re with your assigned production company. But you’ll also get structured industry training sessions at Channel 4 and other top locations every month. Depending on the area you focus on, these might include working on location and in the studio, writing treatments, script reading, archive and copyright research, sketch writing, interviewing, camera techniques, games creation, working with actors and assessing contributors for television. On top of all that, there’s a generous training allowance of £17,000.

 Then what?

Although we can’t promise you a job at the end of it, we can promise that you’ll have developed the skills, knowledge and network of key contacts you need to start building your career.

This sounds fantastic “on the job training” and, as you can see, Channel 4 is dedicated to this. Even though C4 is London based, there are production companies here in the North West and I would imagine that there would be localised placing. But, the biggest production company in Manchester is the BBC itself along with Carlton/Granada.

I’m not paid to do this, so I’m not ringing round and writing to all these people. But, it does look good for the future and one way to prove you really want to do it is to do it voluntary at first. With real help from the BBC in getting into the industry it could lead to a fulfilling exciting career and good pay.

Here is a recent BBC vacancy:

Broadcast Assistant- Radio Drama

Knowledge, Skills & Abiities

Postholders at all levels must have a minimum of the following:

1. Broadly based general knowledge, with enthusiasm for and knowledge of broadcasting and the output of BBC Radio Drama.
2. A knowledge of the drama community and an interest in working with writers, actors etc.
3. Good knowledge of reference sources.
4. Knowledge of radio production techniques and of operational and administrative systems.
5. Familiarity with the technical equipment used in radio production and potential to undertake straightforward operation under transmission pressures.
6. Good aural judgement together with a developed interest in sound.
7. Good understanding of BBC Producer Guidelines.
8. Knowledge and experience of using IT systems / keyboard skills.
9. Knowledge of BBC accident, incident, broadcasting emergency and evacuation procedures.
10. A creative and proactive approach and able to offer up ideas and suggestions for future Drama.

BBC.co.uk/jobs

How do you get to know 1 - 10 unless you’ve been inside the BBC and trained in this area?

I joined MCIN November of last year and over 9 months later, still no news of BBC training in Manchester.. tick.. tick.. tick..

If  the BBC in Manchester are really committed to us, then it could be an exciting prospect and a great opportunity for all of who are working voluntary, for no pay, because we want this to lead to payed employment in the media industry.

“Isn’t it small?” I remarked. “I know!” replied Kaite. What a grand day out in them there hills, we had.

BBC Radio Lancashire sits in a small showroom at the heart of Blackburn. Quietly ticking away the beat of entertainment, music and local news, pumping it out across the Lancashire hills to feed the brains of attentive listeners and any wandering sheep.

Their open day gave us an insight into the diversity of the ‘now’ BBC local radio & it’s multi-media platforms. Oh, let’s get techie. Creativity, opportunities, food & the Ladies @ Lunch went down a treat. Kaite enjoyed herself, as there were a few charity shops close by. Myself, I got to find out more info about News & Journalism courses held at UCLan.

What I learned at the first workshop was valuable, even if I never get to do a course like undergraduate.. or is it foundation? Anyways, I suddenly realised that what skills I gained here in Manchester is exactly what BBC local radio or BBC journalism is looking for. People that can work across different multi-media platforms, producing content for radio, TV and website.

The last time I went to a BBC open day was a few years back when BBC Manchester opened it’s doors for a day. That was not very good, too many people collecting free pens besides me. I just didn’t get anything out of it. BBC Radio Lancashire was more smaller and better, having quality workshops where I gained insight and got better understanding of todays 21st Century BBC background diversity drive.

There was a workshop on Media City, Salford Quays, and what it means to have a media city there for 2011. Did you know that there will be doctors and dentists there, too? All private, I guess! I know CBBC is not my ambition, but there are other opportunities in the UK (think national).

Some guys were surprised to find out that you can have a career in the BBC developing software. Yes, BBC iPlayer is an example. Then there’s web development and other areas, such as electricians. All them cables, someone has to change the fuse when they blow!

One day, you could be driving up the M61 / M6 and be listening to Paul Ridyard on BBC Radio Lancashire. Why not BBC RM, you may ask? They haven’t rang me yet. And I’m still waiting to hear about the 2 day journalism workshops put on by BBC Manchester. I won’t hold my breath, instead I’m going to find out more about BBC Lancashire & UCLan and look at the education opportunities and career prospects.. seeing that BBC are heading North, doesn’t seem to be much happening here at the mo.

Yes.. that is Tony Livesey on the wall and somewhere in the distance, where the banner is, is sex change soldier Jan Hamilton.

New musical drama series Britannia High was filming at the back of the Town Hall this afternoon around lunch time. The cast & crew were filming a music number.

Britannia High is a contemporary British performing arts school. The cast will play a close knit group of six students, all sharing the same hopes and dreams of success.

The drama series sees the students learning how to make their own mark on the world.

 According to the press release.

The drama series is set to air in Autumn 2008.

Britannia High - ITV Drama

No, not a rush for my autograph this time.. they were filming Arndale Centre’s  new TV advert. No more info than that really, but some nice pics. You may notice that these are the originals from my phone camera. So, they’re big and untouched by the free software Irfanview.

We have an exclusive interview with Italian Film Director, Mimmo Calopresti, when he visited Manchester on 12th June.

LIVE guest will be Dave Morgan, who’s performing “Hovis In Wonderland” for Not Part Of Festival on Tuesday 8th July at Matt & Phreds Jazz Club in the Northern Quarter.

Chill Factore are hosting “An Evening of Selfridges Fashion, Music and Celebrity, on Snow!” this Tuesday 1st July. With special guest appearance of the British Alpine Ski Team & ski demonstration. There will be a fashion show and live music entertainment. Paul & Kaite will be there to interview the BAS Team and others. More details see Chill Factore and Manchester Confidential

News about Henry Winkler coming to Manchester. You know, the guy who played the Fonz in the 70’s US sitcom “Happy Days”.

The British Urban Collective is coming to Manchester and auditions are being held at the Zion Arts Centre.

MUSIC: Joe Loss & his Orchestra “In The Mood”, Alex Gaudino ft Shena “Watch Out”, Coldplay “Viva La Vida”..

FULL Italian Contemporary Cinema event interviews available from weekend on www.mymanchester.net and www.allfm.org as well the Podcast from the show.

Paul

This atmospheric gritty production starts off well, with good audience interaction and the visual effects from 3 projectors and smoke machine all adding to the effect. There’s an excellent performance from the Sanitary Department of the company that runs the city. Which makes you think that these guys are putting heart and soul into their parts and having fun.

Then it seemed to lose its momentum, towards the end, that captured me from scene 1. It looked as though the beginning was well worked on, with the end looking rushed. Some of the actors were quieter and, with people eating crisps, made me wonder what was going on. I would have liked to have seen total blackout in 1 or 2 scene changes and a rat in the rubbish. If the stage would have been larger then some of the props could have been left on stage in the shadows, so the pace could have kept increasing without interruption. Which, I think, was the idea behind Act II.

They need to work with masks more effectively to bring them alive. For the body language and head movements were more reminiscent of crash-test dummies. Instead of looking like police, I thought they were bank robbers.

Still, it was enjoyable to watch and I didn’t look at my watch once. The fact that I don’t wear one, has nothing to do with it. I wasn’t even yawning or scratching, which showed, that for a couch potato like me, it must have caught my interest throughout.

‘Paulasville’ is running every night at the Zion Arts Centre, Stretford Rd, Hulme, until Saturday night.

Parents are concerned about fast moving vehicles even though there are speed bumps and that these ramps won’t slow down boy racers. Yet, children should be accompanied by an adult if they are too young.

None of the demonstrators, however, was admitting as to who was in charge or who exactly organised the event.

Vanessa Hall, mother of a young son, tree surgeon and was elected Hulme Councillor 2003 -2008 for the Green Party, told The Hulme Tune, “As a parent myself, I don’t think its appropriate to have this road going through the park.” Vanessa, Chair of Manchester Green Party and their national spokesperson on women issues, went on to say that most parents think the road doesn’t need to be here.

Other Hulme residents, who live further along Royce Road towards City Road, argued that OAP’s who live local want the 263 bus to come back through St Wilfred’s estate. Last year, after money was spent on new bus shelters and raising kerb heights, the 263 was re-routed to go along Stretford Rd. This means that pensioners on the estate have to walk further while carrying heavy shopping across Stretford Rd at busy times.

Even though the Community Transport bus is available, local residents aren’t happy with the service. One woman, who doesn’t want to be named, told me, “People have to book the Community Transport bus the day before and not on demand as they wanted, then return at an exact time. Bringing back the 263 along Royce Road would benefit many. If Royce Road is blocked off then any hope of its return would be squashed.”

This is what Councillor Nigel Murphy had to say:

Royce Road Blockage - Cllr Nigel Murphy

You can listen to more of the interviews from this demonstration by listening to The Hulme Tune this Thursday 10-11am on ALL FM 96.9

This Government says you can earn up to £81 a week for 16 hours and not effect your Incap. It seems a good deal.. doesn’t it? But, when you look into it more, you find that this Government takes it back, all but £20 or £5, by stealth again for those who rent their homes.

Yes, I would get to keep the money and benefits; but Housing and Council Tax Benefit is reduced so much that, after working for 16 hours, I would only get to keep £5 after paying FULL rent and Council Tax (don’t remind me). What a load of b*****it.

How dumb can you be and still breath? Which Bright Elected Representative Kingpin (BERK) in the Government stopped any incentive for me, who’s on Incap, to do any paid p/t permitted work at all?

£5 FOR 16 HOURS IS SLAVE LABOUR - WHERE IS THE INCENTIVE IN THAT?

Perhaps this money that this Government gets back goes on MP’s second homes - new kitchens for all + new chandeliers + cleaners + decor+ landscape gardening + maybe we are paying their Council Tax + window cleaning + new fitted carpets + expensive mahogany furniture and 4 poster beds for all 4 or more bedrooms? While some of us on Incap are still trying to keep one single roof over our heads and wondering how we make ends meet! Is this where some of the duty on fuel is going?

Any jobs going in Parliament? I could do with 2 homes and being chauffeur driven or helicopter to work.

Why doesn’t this Government do something more constructive and not obstructive - change this stupid rule?

A street in Manchester became the location for the new ITV 3-part drama series “Wired” today. Great Bridgewater Street, off Oxford St, was turned into Prince’s Street EC2, with a London bus and the bar “Temple” being a London Underground station. Some of the shots were filmed in London itself and today Manchester and then Liverpool next week.

WIRED stars Jodie Whittaker (Venus, St Trinians), Toby Stephens (Jane Eyre, Die Another Day), Charlie Brookes (Eastenders), Laurence Fox (Lewis) and Sacha Dhawan (Splintered, Bradford Riots) and is about a £250m Internet bank fraud. The gang use an innocent mum to steal money.

You can just make out Beetham Tower in the background.

The series will be shown on ITV in Autumn this year.

Now spot the mistake on the set?

The number at the bus stop is ‘2′ while the number on the bus is ‘96′.

A costly mistake, if it is a mistake that is, to come back to Manchester and shoot it again. Maybe, they just film the back of the bus? Perhaps, the bus was hijacked? Or, the bus got diverted? What if the mum is a bus driver and wanted to stop off at the bank?

Guess I’ll have to wait until the Autumn to find out.

The good news is, is that the bailiffs cannot break into my flat to take my stuff - it’s illegal for them to do so. Something the council nor Jacob’s doesn’t want the public to know. Each of the bailiff’s visits cost me £24 for the first one and £18 for the next one. Yet, all they can do is stand outside - in the pouring rain, I hope. It will put an extra £44 on the total bill and me, being on Incapacity Benefit, cannot afford this cruel diabolical extra cost by this Manchester City (Mafia) Council. ‘PAY or DIE!!!’ - so to speak.

Who cares if I become homeless - AGAIN! They certainly don’t.

What if Manchester City Council made me homeless? Well, the council would give me a newly built flat within a month and £500+ worth of goods from DWP benefits and then another Council Tax bill to welcome me back with.

If only this Government could invest in helping us heavily, poor, over council-taxed souls on to a new brighter positive path to better mental & physical health and further educating all into university for free and thus freeing our minds from the torment of stresses, anxieties and depression due to Council Tax payment withdrawals, with the threat of an unscheduled house clearance courtesy of Manchester City Council.

Then moving, with forward thinking, to the beams of endless possibilities of career opportunities. Therefore, gloriously transforming our ignored human existence from parasite to contributor? Which previously awaited those that were privileged and exclusive, having parents on such high incomes that they can afford to pay all of their 2.4 off-springs’ University fees 10 times over.

I did go to the CAB in Hulme, after all. They were very nice and, more importantly, very helpful indeed. I may be able to get even more money in unclaimed benefits.

In the meantime, all this is costing YOU the council tax payer even more money as the administration cost to local government mounts up. Which leads to higher council tax rates next year and a deficit in this year’s council budget. All thanks to Gordon (Ebenezer) Brown, our very own Sheriff of Nottingham, and now he’s Prime Minister. Give it to the poor in one hand and take it back with the other - tighter than a Russian economy.

By now it must have cost the council more money than the £112.33 owed. Not my problem, as the cost to this council increases every month.

Dear Government,

It would have been cheaper to the British tax payer if you gave those on Incapacity Benefit FULL Housing and Council Tax Benefits.

Signed.. ME

Will I pay it… maybe.. eventually, when it cost this council more and more money in the administration costs alone.

I can’t wait until Manchester City Council takes a man with a disability, on benefits, to court to face jail. Prisons are over crowded, so they’ll release him by letting him off. Then he doesn’t have to pay the council tax bill at all .. He won’t have to do the time.. and YOU pay the cost in legal fees, on both sides, and this resulting in increased council taxes. When people do come out of prison, they get a new home, benefits and money for household items and re-decorating, incentives to get more education (I hear) and a social worker to help them claim every penny from the Government - British tax payer, again, footing the bill.

Hopefully, this Government or the next one may see clearly that there needs to be a change to give those who have a disability on Incap full H&CT Benefit. To live independent lives - not having to go back to living with aging parents, to be a burden to them, or ask a friend to put them up and risk their Housing Benefit being stopped.

Why did the Government introduce the Council Tax in the first place?