The hallowed turf of Liverpool FC was just a goal kick away, but for the Year Nine pupils of Calderstones School it was the Anfield Sports and Community Centre that was a special focus of attention.
Through the LJMU Outreach initiative, JMU Journalism has been helping the students prepare for a day of filming and interviewing veteran walking footballers as well as making their own video reports as part of their media studies.
In the build-up, our staff visited ‘Caldies’ School to run technical workshops on mobile journalism in preparation for the assignment, which was run in conjunction with the LFC Foundation, the official charity of Liverpool Football Club that supports young people and families on Merseyside. This may not have been Anfield itself, but the impressive astroturf surface was very inviting for the football-mad youngsters.
No sooner had we delivered our final briefing, the kids got involved in shooting of a different kind, taking part in the warm-up and having a kick-about themselves, with the players being encouraging to make the kids feel at ease, making sure they had an enjoyable time.
However, they were quickly reminded that they were here to work and do a job and this was the moment to put mobile filming theory into practice. They soon found out the oldest player was 88 years old, making him an immediate post-match interview target.
They also met long-serving Hillsborough campaigner, Margaret Aspinall, who helps prepare the meals for the players after their matches.
Once they got down to business, the boys and girls impressed everyone with the way they approached interviews, whether with bystanders taking in the game, or with the players themselves.
Calderstones Media Teacher, Heather Doody, said the experience has certainly improved learning and social skills, adding: “It is not only about building their confidence, speaking to people they do not know, but it has also helped with their media skills, and gaining a level of pride in their finished product; the sense of ‘I made that’.”
As far as the LFC Foundation’s Employability Co-ordinator, Carmel Carey-Shields, was concerned, this was mission accomplished.
She said: “This is about getting kids to interact with an older generation and appreciating the sense of community at an activity like this. The work of LJMU has helped them build up to this and given them the chance to dip their toe in the water and find out more about media career awareness.”
Even older university undergraduates can find it daunting to approach total strangers and ask them questions for news days, but the Calderstones pupils showed great resilience and confidence.
The role of LJMU lecturer, Tim Abraham, and technician, Alan Humphreys, was to be on their shoulders offering shooting and interviewing advice. It was not all about football either, as the Caldies media crew also spoke to the women’s netballers in the gym.
Aside from the journalism day, it was uplifting to see and experience the community spirit around the occasion and the sports centre. This was a story in itself.
After the match the players are served with a hearty meal of curry and Scouse, and although the pupils may have brought their own packed lunch, unsurprisingly they tucked in too.
With plenty of shot material, the schoolchildren will now edit their own versions of the day, and the best video will receive a prize.
The culmination of our media programme with @_be_inspi_red saw @CaldiesSchool pupils visit ASCC to interview the Walking Football and Walking Netball teams🎥
They aimed to capture the wonderful stories that the participants have to share about themselves and reasons for taking… pic.twitter.com/P6e7LBfi6n
— LFC Foundation (@LFCFoundation) June 18, 2024
@JMUJournalism out and about in Liverpool for @LJMUOutreach helping out with media studies @CaldiesSchool pic.twitter.com/4P83UUYwzH
— Tim Abraham (@JustMrTimNow) June 14, 2024