Making the most of it

As I began my fourth and final year, I knew that I would not be able to commit as much time to the station as I would like.  I decided to throw myself in at the beginning of the year and make the most of it whilst I still could, as I knew that my workload was going to increase significantly.

I started the year by producing a short video for RGU:Nightline, a service being launched by the union which allowed students to phone in for help and advice during the night.  The shoot involved interviewing founder of the service, Steve, and filming the Nightline mascot, Robbie the Bear, in action, which was a lot of fun.  In order to produce the video quickly, I used my editing software at home - it did not provide the highest quality finish, and it is one video that I would have loved to have the opportunity to re-do, but Steve seemed really pleased with what I had produced and it became an effective promotional tool for the service.

The next video I produced was of the Freshers' Fayre, which was another really fun video to make due to the lively atmosphere of the event. With the help of the Vice President of Entertainment & Events, Edward, we set up a 'booth' where students could share their views on Freshers' Week. This was a really simple and effective way of getting students involved and boosting the awareness of RGU:TV.  I expected students to be quite reluctant to speak on camera, but the excitement of the Fayre seemed to make people more keen to get involved.

We also received the largest number of sign-ups out of the Media group, so I left the Fayre feeling positive that RGU:TV would be in good hands when my schedule increased and I could no longer manage the station.  Unfortunately, it did not work out this way...

Going Live

The first time I really felt that people were excited to get involved was when we took on the challenge of broadcasting live from The Big Independence Debate that was being held by the university.

The event, held in February, involved a panel of MPs and local Councillors debating the issues surrounding the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum, with students asking questions and airing opinions.  The event was a huge success, and with limited seating in the auditorium, I felt pleased that we were able to broadcast the event to students who were unable to attend.

We were able to borrow equipment from the university technicians, and we used an online source called 'UStream' for the broadcast.  This allowed us to add a 'button' to our Facebook page that users could click in order to watch the broadcast, so the whole programme was integrated with our social media presence.  This was very positive for engaging students, but it also meant that our Facebook page was where people chose to message us if they were experiencing problems watching the programme.

We only had two cameras for the broadcast: one focused on the panelists and one on the audience.  These didn't need to be maneuvered a lot during the broadcast, so I was able to answer people on social media during the programme.  There were only a couple of complaints - the majority of people said that the broadcast went very well.  Either way, I was pleased with how it went considering it was our first attempt at broadcasting live.

The event really ignited my passion for a career in television.  Despite the fact that it was a very small scale production, I really enjoyed the buzz around it.  The whole RGU Media Group pulled together to source equipment and ensure that the broadcast went smoothly.  The Radar Magazine group covered the event on social media, and RGU:Radio also did a live broadcast, so the three of us worked really well together.  I enjoyed the feeling of being a valued aspect of an event, as everybody involved showed their appreciation, and I was happy that I was able to pass that appreciation onto the people in the RGU:TV team that came to help out.

In March 2014, I was awarded a Half-Scarlet with Distinction Award at the Student Achievements Ball for my efforts in launching RGU:TV. It was completely unexpected and it felt fantastic to be rewarded for the time and effort that I had put in, although it was a hugely rewarding experience for me regardless!