Tom Hughes is the video journalist for Seven TV, the longest
running community TV channel in the UK. Seven broadcasts to over
140,000 homes on the Virgin Media network (channel 879) in North and North East
Lincolnshire. It’s also available on demand, nationwide, at www.channel7tv.co.uk. Here, Tom gives
us a little insight into life in the broadcast industry…
In this job, no two days are ever the same and my role is
split between production and post-production responsibilities. On a monthly
basis, I shoot, edit and produce a half-hour magazine programme called
Lincolnshire Living, which is shown twice a day on Seven at 9am and 6pm.
Lincolnshire Living is Seven’s flagship show and usually consists of coverage
from events around the region, or inspiring stories about significant
individuals or groups from the local area.
My day typically starts at my desk, when I check my emails,
scour the web for interesting stories and upcoming events, and generally
organise myself for the weeks ahead. I then head down to my edit suite for
several hours, cutting together footage from previous events (interspersed with
a few vital tea breaks). Then, come the end of the day, I usually set off to
cover an event that is taking place that evening.
Obviously, every day is different; a key element of the job is
being flexible with your time, as you are often required to work into the
evening or at weekends. However, this is not always as inconvenient as it may
sound. The event you are attending could be a glitzy awards ceremony, a carnival,
or even an all day music festival or national sporting event where you have an
access-all-areas pass – this is definitely one of the perks! Sometimes I have
to pinch myself when I’m stood backstage with The Zutons, or at the starting
line of the Tour of Britain, and remember that this is actually my job!
Whilst on a shoot, I use a Sony DSR 570 DVCAM or Sony
HVR-Z1e HDV Camcorder (depending on the scale of the event) with a Beyerdynamic
MCE 86N shotgun mic, and Sony UWP Series clip mics for interviews. I’m usually
on shoots by myself, so it’s important to be organised and know how all the kit
works. In the edit suite, I use either Avid Xpress Pro 4 or Final Cut Studio
for the offline edits. I work with both so that my knowledge stays fresh and my
skills are always transferable.
Once the offline edit is checked for content and approved by
my colleagues, it’s then ‘tech checked’ to ensure it meets broadcast
regulations. This includes checking colour spectrums and audio levels to make
sure the programme abides by legal guidelines. Once the tech check is complete,
the finished programme is uploaded to the channel scheduler, ready to be
broadcast on TV. Then the process starts all over again for the next episode.
It truly is a job like no other. You have a licence to go
anywhere in the region, attend all sorts of events and meet a variety of
different people (from local heroes to national celebrities). Every day is so
different and the job is exactly what you make of it. It’s a pressured
environment and you are always working to deadlines, so it’s important to be
able to keep a cool head when things go wrong (which, inevitably, they do!)
At the end of the day, you have to remember that you are
making something with the sole purpose of entertaining others. That’s why I
never get bored of what I do; you never know what’s coming next!