Students Spread Lockdown Positivity via the Airwaves

Falmouth Journalism students have teamed up with Cornish radio station Source FM to provide daily news about the impact of coronavirus in the area.

The community station invited Journalism students to produce a daily show to highlight the many positive efforts that the community in Falmouth and Penryn are undertaking to help cope with the crisis.

Lecturer Kevin Bishop and technician Ivor Richards are leading a team of about 12 students, with others joining regularly. The lockdown obviously means the whole operation is being run remotely, with Kevin reprising a newsgathering role he used to perform for the BBC to marshal reporters spread far and wide. Ivor is providing the technical and editing know-how.

Using online resources to find stories and record interviews, students are producing a variety of reports every day. Subjects covered so far include a project to deliver food, how footballers are keeping fit at home and an appeal for accommodation for key workers.

One of the quirkier highlights was a report on a local woman who’s been feeding a robin on Pendennis Point. She can no longer travel there but has found a willing community to help feed the bird while she self-isolates.

The bulletin was first broadcast on March 30. It is on air at 8am and repeated at 1pm every day, with a compilation at the weekend.

Kevin Bishop commented: “At a time of national emergency it’s great to see Falmouth Journalism students step up to the plate and produce such quality reports, especially as some of them too are self-isolating. As well as making a real and positive contribution to the community, it will serve them well for their CVs and portfolios."

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