FRESH BLOOD PUBLISHING COURSE GRADUATING STUDENTS 2018
PRODUCED BY THE PUBLISHING FUTURES LAB
WORKING WITH THE BBC IN MANCHESTER
PIONEERING COURSE:95% GRADUATE EMPLOYABILITY
PUBLISHING STUDENTS worked with the BBC social media team in December at the three-day Children’s Global Media Summit (CGMS) in Manchester. Around 130 international speakers from organisations including Facebook and YouTube, broadcasters, journalists, authors, filmmakers and actors delivered keynote talks and panel sessions on challenges and opportunities in a fast-moving digital world. The event was curated by the BBC whose social media team carried out regular briefings. Our students were also given feedback on their work by Alice Webb, Director of BBC Children’s and Chair of the CGMS 2017. Our students were able to put their learning into practice to create professional-standard multimedia content for social media channels, including video interviews,VoxPops, reportage and photos. Final-year student Liam Jones and secondyear student Honey Debney-Succoia interviewed Tony Hall, Director General of the BBC and the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham. Liam said: ‘It was a privilege meeting speakers and hearing the inspirational things they had to say.’ Fellow team members, Jemma Gardner and Kat Valentine, produced lively reportage
WE ARE DELIGHTED to launch our talented 2018 graduates at this year’s Degree Show. We know that they will go on to carve out interesting careers for themselves and make a difference in the world. Bath Spa’s BA (Hons) Publishing is a pioneering creative, studio-based course designed to incorporate innovation, flexibility, collaborative and industry-based working, and high-quality making across print and digital. Students learn to critically engage with ideas and research – and to develop areas of special interest. Through a wide range of modules, they apply creativity and editorial judgement in conceptualising and prototyping engaging content for different audiences. Live projects and industry collaborations with international companies such as Penguin Random House and local cultural organisations such as Bath Festivals comes as standard. Students graduate with core editorial, production and marketing skills in place and a professional digital portfolio. They are ready – as one employer recently commented – to ‘hit the ground running’.
Jemma Gardner and Kat Valentine working on their social media content at the Children’s Global Media Summit in Manchester.
and vox pops. Jemma commented: ‘It was fascinating to discover how the industry is trying to break down the barriers in children’s media to take advantage of the digital age.’ James Bridgeman, BBC Children’s Social Media Editor, said: ‘We were enormously impressed by the enthusiasm, skill and ingenuity of this team of motivated self-starters.
They were always willing to help and throw ideas into the mix. It was a pleasure to work with such a talented team.’ There was also a surprise appearance by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the summit, with Prince William giving a speech about protecting children’s wellbeing and mental health in a digital world.
Katharine Reeve, Publishing Course Leader
ALUMNA SHORTLISTED FOR PUBLISHING AWARD go in her final year: ‘She is a talented digital publishing creative and has the energy and application needed to do well in the industry.’ Kara now works as a Social Media and Community Manager at the Booksellers Association, managing all digital marketing and social content for their website,YouTube channels and book campaigns, including the nationwide ‘Books Are My Bag’. Kara said: ‘Studying publishing at Bath Spa helped to kick-start my career. It really carves out a place for you in the creative world.You leave with an invaluable set of skills that prepare you for employment.’
STOP PRESS!
KARA RENNIE (BA Creative Writing and Publishing, 2012) was shortlisted for the 2018 London Book Fair Trailblazer Awards, which celebrate talented publishing professionals under thirty. Kara said: ‘I was very excited when I found out I had been shortlisted, it’s a real boost to have early on in your career.’ Katharine Reeve remembered Kara having multiple social media industry projects on the
Publishing
We recently received the exciting news that Amy Barrett, a Publishing and Creative Writing student and Jenna Rainey, a graduate of the course (and of the MA Writing for Young People), are both on the shortlist for this year’s Creative Bath Awards. The Chair of Creative Bath and Chief Executive of publisher, digital agency and events company MediaClash, Greg Ingham said: ‘We want to highlight stunning creativity to celebrate our top local creative, tech and cultural organisations and people.’ Amy and Jenna have been shortlisted in the Creative Bath Student Award category to celebrate ‘a student who shines bright and has a creative future ahead of them’. This new award for 2018 is sponsored by local company, Anthem Publishing. Winners will be announced in mid June.
The social media team at the TEDxBristol event at Colston Hall in November 2017.
PUBLISHING @TEDXBRISTOL BATH SPA UNIVERSITY Publishing students were major contributors to the social media coverage of November’s TEDxBristol event ‘Dare to Disrupt’ at Colston Hall. Over 1,500 attendees enjoyed inspiring and enlightening talks from a wide range of speakers. A team of third-year Publishing
students worked tirelessly across the twoday event, creating live multimedia coverage across social media channels. This was highly successful and provided students with excellent first-hand experience of producing creative content for a leading international event series.