Guests were treated to a talent showcase tonight as Liverpool Screen School’s graduating students from the Creative Writing, Drama, Film Studies and Journalism programmes demonstrated the best of their work.
The event was the second annual LSS Graduate Show, bringing together the combined and varied skills of the Class of 2016 in a series of live performances and screenings at LJMU Redmonds.
With readings of poetry, dramatic vignettes, film exhibitions and a working newsroom in operation, those who attended expressed their admiration for the displays.
Look back at JMU Journalism’s live blog from the show >>
Robin Elias, Managing Editor of ITV News at ITN, told JMU Journalism: “I’m really impressed with the Screen School and you get a feel for the energy of the place. The facilities are fantastic and I know some of the radio suites have been used by Classic FM. The work produced here is of such a professional quality.”
He added that both the television and radio studios are comparable to ITN, just on a smaller scale.
Robin, who sits on the board of the Broadcasting Journalism Training Council, or BTJC, is an advocate for specialist degree training in journalism.
He told JMU Journalism: “If a student comes to me with a BJTC accredited degree I know he or she has practised news days, can shoot film, edit, and knows broadcast law. There are also so many platforms to have your work published on today – there are really so many avenues with journalism away from the traditional print media.”
The recently-chosen Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Roz Gladden, discussed the importance of art in the university environment.
She told JMU Journalism: “Art is becoming one of those subjects which is being squeezed out of the National Curriculum. What the students have produced over the year is absolutely amazing and you don’t want to stifle that. We particularly need this in Liverpool. We want to grow and we need the work going on behind the scenes.”
Liverpool Screen School Director, Rachel McLean, said: “This is an emotional time for our final year students and this degree show is the culmination of their hard work over the last three years.
“This year we became the first university to receive two recommendations, on the quality of our student opportunities and on the enhancement of our opportunities. This is all thanks to the hard work of our staff and the dedication of our students.”
YouTube: JMU Journalism’s end of year video