Any tips from BBC producers or media

[zippimistletoes]

people on how to approach getting work experience ?

dd1 (22) is studying Spanish, French and politics
and is currently on a year at Madrid university where she is studying and also working for a magazine called hot english

next summer she wants to get some work experience in current affairs pref with radio or tv production or similar

How is it best to contact the right people, should she write to individuals

Thanks for your help

I don't work for the beeb, but I read in the Guardian last week that they've now got an online application form for work experience trainees, brought in to avoid the kind of nepotism that used to operate (eg the Chairman's niece, etc).

I think she tried that earlier in the year but didn't get any response

The only people we've heard of getting anything have been people who knew someone!

Did she by any chance go to a GDST school? If so, they have an Old Girls' network called Minerva specifically for this sor tof thing.

She should write an enthusiastic and knowledgeable letter to the editor of the programme she'd most like to work on asking for work experience and asking specifically for a reply by email (makes it easier to reply quickly in a busy day) She should say that if that editor can't deal with her request could they pass it on to the central unit dealing with work experience queries.

no unfortunately not

no unfortunately not to gdst not writing a letter

I think she will probably do the letter, she has sent one to our local mp also asking for work experience..he has written back saying he will look into it in the New Year

I work in consumer magazines so can't directly help your DD but can tell you how it works with us. First off, be prepared to wait: work exp is often booked up 18 months in advance. As WWW has said, specific letters work better than round robins or standard letters with only the name changed - you need to show an interest in the product. Try and find out who makes the decision - it won't be the editor or publisher of a magazine, quite possibly the editorial assistant - and ring up and ask if there are any spaces. Be cheerful, sound like you are prepared to sort the post and make the tea, and don't give up. And don't forget local media - most of the successful people I know started on local papers and local radio. Good luck!

(sorry - hijack - I don't know how to do it zmt other than find specific names, do research, and write directly to them)
Pretty Candles, were you a G(P)DST girl then?

i think she should ring up the programme she wants to work on and offer to make tea/post letters/run around/be a gofer. i work in the media and the trouble with work experience people is that they think they are above this, when - to be honest - most of us started that way. she just has to plead and grovel! persistence wins in the end

the other way into politics/current affairs is to be an MP's researcher. work for nothing but get loads of vital House of Commons and constituency experience. Or try the House magazine (the mag for the House of Commons). Daisy (ITN senior political reporter) started out there.

Remember spending a week or so at a local radio station, taking phone calls for requests and competitions and making tea mainly. Did also get to work with some of the presenters/journalists who showed me editting, programme planning etc. This was about 20 years ago though, so I'm sure it has all moved on considerably since. Think I just wrote in to the head of the station concerned.