The 2009/10 cohort of students have started this year’s course.

Once again the course is full (we can take a maximum of 12 students) and this year we have our first Erasmus scholar – a student from Romania, as well as a mixture of UK, Scottish and Irish students.

The students have already visited Real Radio. More visits are coming up soon to the BBC and the Clyde newsroom.

Congratulations to o8/09 graduate, Vicky Murray, who has now secured a full-time job as a broadcast journalist with Westsound in Ayrshire.

As well as those who have secured full-time jobs, other students have secured paid shifts  on a variety of stations. Vicky Murray is working at both West FM and L107; Gregor Hollerin has been working for BBC Radio Scotland sport and Lorraine Welsh is at Wave 102 in Dundee.

Congratulations to Shiona McCallum, from this year’s cohort, who has secured a full-time position with Moray Firth Radio as a Broadcast Journalist  (where she will be joining other graduates of the course including Fiona Miller from last year’s group.)

Well done to two current students who have secured full-time jobs.

Fiona Winchester will be joining Northsound in Aberdeen as a broadcast journalist.

Kayleigh Cameron has been appointed to a job with the communications team at the SFA, where she will contribute to web-site content along with other duties.

Various students are now working shifts as broadcast journalists – even before the end of the course.

Congratulations to Vicky Murray who continues to pick up shifts at Westsound in Ayr. Also to Gregor Hollerin who has been commissioned to produce some packages for BBC Radio Scotland’s sports programmes.  You should be able to hear the first of these this Friday on Radio Scotland’s rugby programme. 

Nicola Cunningham has also been asked back to work regularly in the Radio Forth newsroom in Edinburgh.

It’s interesting that these have all come about  after successful work placements, which shows the value of this element of the course.

This year’s students spent a day at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday.  After watching First Minister’s Questions  they spoke to the Finance Secretary, John Swinney MSP, about a range of subjects including media coverage of politics.

In the afternoon, they chatted to Kevin Pringle – Alex Salmond’s spokesman – and also sat in on the government media briefing which takes place after each session of FMQs.  

John Swinney taking questions from the students

Thanks to Lorraine Herbison, news editor at Radio Clyde; Heather Kane, news editor at Real Radio Scotland; and Phil Wells, editor of Good Morning Scotland, for holding guest editor days over the past two weeks.

During these days the students work to the instructions of the editors as they produce bulletins and news programmes in accordance with professional standards.

Following a recent visit, the BJTC has decided to re-accredit the course for another three years – with no conditions attached.  This accreditation means we have again met the  industry training body’s high standards.

The BJTC accredits courses on the basis of factors such as teaching quality, industry links and facilities.

It’s been announced that The Scott Trust, onwers of the Guardian Media Group,  are offering students on the  Graduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism the chance to apply for bursaries.

This course is the only one in Scotland elegible for the scheme. You can get more details here.