Eve Davies
On Wednesday 9th June 2021, Empoword Journalism hosted the ninth workshop in their ‘In Conversation With…’ series. Opinion Editor Sanjana Idnani and Amelia Perry sat down with Georgia Coan, a podcast producer, journalist, and reporter for the BBC, to discuss podcasting, radio, routes into the journalism industry, dealing with sensitive topics and more.
Georgia Coan is from Dunstable, Bedfordshire. She currently works in the BBC News Podcast Unit and is a member of the BBC News Next Generation Panel, which helps to influence cultural changes. Georgia has produced and reported for award-winning podcasts, including ‘Beyond Today’, ‘The Next Episode’, and ‘Newscast’. She is credited for her coverage of hard-hitting news topics, such as grief, mental health, and extremism. She has a particular passion for helping people voice their personal stories in the public eye.
Georgia talked about her first steps into the industry; beginning at the age of six when she would record interviews with pets and neighbours on a cassette. By the age of sixteen, inspired by Louis Theroux and fellow Luton journo Stacey Dooley, Georgia decided that a career in journalism was the one for her. She completed a BTEC Creative Media course at her local college. She went onto university but dropped out after one year. At this point, she ‘wrote off’ her journalism career and felt she had nothing left, however, thanks to her determination and passion, she pushed through.
Georgia began digital marketing for small businesses. By 2016, she secured an apprenticeship in digital media with BBC Three Counties, which offered her a broad experience in the industry. From her experience, Georgia advised: ‘Put rejection to the side because it will all work out in the end.’
Journalists’ passion
“Passion is the driving force in journalism”
The workshop went on to discuss the similar personality traits of journalists and concluded that the main one is a shared passion for helping others tell their stories. Georgia said that the best piece of advice she has been given throughout her career is: ‘Passion is what will get you to where you want to be’. She explained that connections, experience, and family influence are all irrelevant if the passion is not there. Passion is the driving force in journalism and can should utilised to the advantage of the journalist – do what you love and work on it, improve your skills and reap the benefits.
Georgia identified the core skills of a journalist. These include interest in others’ stories, knowledge of the community, desire to shine a light on important issues, and the ability to connect and empathise with people. She said that it is inevitable that you become a better journalist over time, but if these skills are present at the foundation of your career, building upon them will lead to success.
Georgia stated that networking is an integral part of the journalism industry. She advises young journalists not to be afraid about putting themselves out there. Georgia said that Twitter is a valuable tool and she encourages junior journalists to drop professionals a DM asking for advice and about job vacancies. She also said that creating a blog or YouTube is a great start to crafting your unique journo portfolio.
Radio vs Podcast
“In podcasting, you can edit out mistakes”
The discussion went on to the differences between radio and podcasts. Having vast experience in both areas, Georgia said that while podcasts and radio are similar, they also have differences. She said that radio is easier in the sense that there is not much time to ‘over think’ what you say. She explained: ‘you must throw something at the wall and hope it sticks’, meaning mistakes are aired on radio. Georgia explained that on radio it is important to accept mistakes, learn from them and move on.
In podcasting, you can edit out mistakes, but of course this makes production a longer process. Radio is released as it is produced. She said it can be hard to cut down podcast recordings when they run over time as valuable discussion can go wasted, whereas on air discussion is encased in a time frame.
Georgia described radio like a restaurant with a set menu, you ‘like it or lump it’. She said that, due to their more casual and chatty tone, podcasts appeal to a niche audience. The discussion can be catered specifically to these regular listeners. She thinks that podcasts plunge listeners deeper into the digital world as they feel part of the conversation and believes that podcast journalism will continue building in popularity in the ever-changing industry. Georgia believes podcasting is the way forward due to its advantage of enabling listeners to drop in and out, catch up and skip back.
“Working from home is possible and allows for a much more diverse workforce”
Working From Home
Georgia considered the positive impact the pandemic has had on the journalism industry as it has shown that working from home is possible and allows for a much more diverse workforce. WFH means people can contribute from all across the country, breaking away from London-centric media. Additionally, disabled colleagues and those who cannot afford to live in big cities get to play their part in creating a more diverse industry. Georgia said that this diversity is vital as different people know how to deal with different topics in suitable ways and this can create a large support network of journalists who can help each other with various topics.
Georgia was sympathetic towards the fact that work experience has been harder to gain during the pandemic but advised young journalists to ‘deal with the cards dealt and make it work for you’. Even though in-person opportunities are limited, there are plenty of online opportunities circulating. Remember, networking is key!
Georgia’s tips for dealing with sensitive topics as a journalist:
- Prepare yourself emotionally.
- Be an empathetic human being; engaging with interviewees on a human level will help them open up to you.
- Build a relationship with case studies over time. Do not rush into questioning and understand it is difficult for them to open up.
- Be transparent. Make it clear what you want and how the story will run.
- Go for subjects you have lived experience in as this will make it easier to understand. If not, ask friends or fellow journalists who have experience for advice on how to broach language.
- Remember you are responsible for your own actions and integrity. Be your own person but remain professional and keep editorial guidelines in mind
Georgia’s tips for the Empoword Opinions podcast:
- Discussion led podcast are most popular and engaging.
- Make listener feel like they are involved in the conversation; a ‘pub chat’ style works well.
- UNDERSTAND YOUR AUDIENCE AND WHAT THEY WANT. The podcast should revolve around them and supply information they can relate to.
- Make polls on social media to help build this understanding; ask for feedback directly from audience and work on the audience response.
- Keep up to date with current topics to bring listeners back each week/day/month.
Pathways into the BBC:
- Pitch to independent companies that work for BBC. The BBC is extremely large, so getting involved with these smaller companies is a great way to connect you with them.
- Reach out, make connections and stay in contact with them. Be enthusiastic and take the chance. Show your passion.
- Don’t give away all your story in a pitch. Make it so the story cannot be completed without you, however cynical that is.
- Email BBC Sounds commissioning team.
Featured image courtesy of Empoword Journalism. No changes were made to this image.
evedaviess
Eve is 22 years old and lives in Swansea. She has recently graduated from Cardiff University with a BA in English Literature. Eve's main interest is in lifestyle writing, particularly health, food, and travel.