Students from Forth Valley College’s innovative student broadcast media channels recently launched a new website platform.
Connect Forth – which offers impressive radio, filmed podcasts, social media platforms and a striking newly designed brand – have developed an online option to bring all the streams together for students to develop, as they study for their BA Digital Media integrated degree. The degree is a qualification where students spend two years at FVC before moving on to complete their degrees at the University of Stirling.
Forth Valley College Principal Dr Ken Thomson was on hand to officially launch the new website at the Stirling Campus broadcast studios on Friday 23 March and was also interviewed by 19 year-old Nastassia Beara, Deputy Programme Controller for Connect Forth Radio.
The Connect Forth team have also just completed two documentaries about their broadcast station, which can be viewed at the following links (Radio) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPucHx6rnbU (TV) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl2G48fPaZ0 .
Complete with a full management, social media and production structure – as would be found in any industry radio or TV station – Connect Forth offers second year BA Digital Media students the opportunity to apply for management and production roles to create the perfect content which can be broadcast to the full Forth Valley College student body.
This year’s second years have been instrumental in helping the station to take the next step forward and leave a legacy for new students to improve upon even further, in the future. They have been supported by Creative Industries lecturers Gavin Orr, Elspeth Badger, Emma MacNair, Joanna Macintyre, Gail English and Pam Holden.
The four student managerial roles are taken by Executive Producer Connect Forth TV Josefina Jarosova (20), Programme Controller Connect Forth Radio Ellie Donald (20), Social Media manager for Connect Forth Shannon Goundry (19) and Web Manager Meghan Bain (19).
Meghan, who oversaw the creation of the new website, said: “I loved being involved in this project. I am very proud of my team who worked on this and the best bit for me was working together and self-teaching ourselves how to produce computer code. It will provide another platform for Connect Forth and for students to showcase their work.”
Shannon, said: “I have absolutely loved it and have developed my managerial skills by being in charge of a small team and growing as an individual in a leadership role. I would definitely recommend it 100 per cent.”
Ellie, said: “I have really enjoyed being a part of Connect Forth as it gives you a lot of creative freedom as well as industry experience as we are working as part of a proper management team.”
Josefina, said: “It has been a great experience. My advice to the next cohort of students would be to not be afraid of taking on the extra workload at Connect Forth as is integrated into the degree.”
FVC Principal Dr Ken Thomson, said: “I spent the whole afternoon with the Connect Forth Team and I must say I was extremely impressed with the professionalism that was shown by all the students connected with the operation.
“The whole college should be extremely proud of what has been created and developed by the college’s Department of Creative Industries. I look forward with great interest to see how Connect Forth progresses over the coming months and years and we will try to support their efforts as much as we can.”
Gavin Orr, Media and Communications Lecturer and Connect Forth Radio Station Manager, said: “We are very excited by the new website and how we are incorporating all media platforms under the Connect Forth banner. We now offer Radio, TV and online content and this workplace standard experience will be invaluable for media and communications students as they move on to university and on into their careers.
“We would be delighted to hear from anyone thinking of applying for a digital media course, as we feel that we can offer them some of the best opportunities available in this field anywhere in Scotland. Tune in to Connect Forth online and on @ConnectForthFVC on Facebook and Twitter to find out for yourselves.”