Fifteen lucky students paid a visit to Kiss FM to brush up on their editing and presenting skills as part of an innovative radio journalism project.

The lucky youngsters were given the opportunity to see how a real radio station works and put the skills they have gained over the last 11 weeks in interviewing, editing and presenting into practice.

The students also heard about the industry first hand and got advice on how to get work in radio from Verity Geere, the news reporter for Magic FM and Gary Vincent a Magic FM presenter. They also met Clara Ambro and Justin Wilkes who are presenters from Kiss FM. Each group made sample Kiss promos with Kiss FM producers Matt Lomax and Simon Palframan.

Vida Tankas aged 20 said: “For the first time I could see the way studios and the whole station was built. Studios looked like little boxes equipped with computers, big microphones, nice sound systems and windows that connect the studios to each other. The coolest one was the Kiss FM studio with its big sound systems and decks! My favourite spot most definitely.”

Sainthave Ramachandran, aged 18 said: “I went to Kiss FM radio station and spoke to the DJ, Editors, speakers and journalists. We also recorded our own speeches to see how it works. I had great fun and also met Channing Tatum!”

Councillor Jonathan McShane, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care and Culture said: “Mapping the Change has enabled the Council to give young people opportunities to get involved with projects where they learn new skills that could help them make decisions about their careers. Mapping the Change will also provide a real insight into the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games for future generations.”

The radio journalism course, which started last year and ends in March 2012 is National Open College Network (NOCN) accredited. It’s giving 20 students the chance to learn the real skills needed in the competitive media industries. It gives hands-on experience at creating professional podcasts with industry experts who give instruction and guidance. Each student will make their own pilot features interviewing people in the community and industry. Their final features will be showcased in an exhibition at the Council run Hackney Museum.

Young people on the course range from BTech in Media and Design and A-Level students to young people from Off Centre, a counselling, therapy and advocacy service. The course is run at Hackney Community College by Ignite Creative, and funded by the Council run Hackney Museum through its Mapping the Change Project. The students will graduate the course in March 2012.

Mapping the Change is a unique history project the about the people of Hackney and the impact of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on their lives. It is capturing the many voices of Hackney s hugely diverse communities by working with community groups, local artists and individuals to produce photographic, digital media, text, and audio based records of the changes and people s responses to them.

Mapping the Change is facilitated by the council run Hackney Museum, to find out more visit; www.hackney.gov.uk/mapping-the-change.htm/

You can find out more information and read all the blogs from the Kiss FM visit at; www.ignitecreative.tv/mappingthechange

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