Broadcast Journalism alumnus wins national student TV award for Yorkshire docuseries
A University of Salford alumnus has bagged a national award for his stunning docuseries on the difficulties that communities face living in rural Yorkshire.
BA Broadcast Journalism graduate Marcus Smith won the award for Undergraduate Journalism for his series Tales from the Dales at the Royal Television Society’s Student Television Awards at London’s FBI Southbank on Friday 23 June.
The series was Marcus’ final project as a student and offers an in-depth look at the rural communities based within the Yorkshire dales and the challenges they face on a daily basis, such as the lack of transport routes.
His win follows recognition in the specially commended category at the RTS’ North West awards in March, in which Salford students swept the board.
Marcus, who is now a freelance journalist at BBC Radio Leeds, said: “I am really honoured to win this year’s award especially given the competition I was up against.
“The journalism team at Salford really helped me through my project and my supervisor Andrew Lindsay gave me really valuable feedback throughout. I had a great day down in London and it was so lovely meeting the panel of judges too.”
Andrew Lindsay, Programme Leader for MA Journalism at the University of Salford, supervised Marcus’ project and was his personal tutor.
He said: “Witnessing him go from a young man with potential, ambition and good attitude to the professional ready for a tough industry is what our course – and university, really – is all about.
“Mentoring his major project was a pleasure because he understood the objectives clearly, took feedback on board and worked hard. He deserves this success and it will be a delight to add this trophy to our increasingly full cabinet.”
Andrew Fletcher, Programme Leader for BA Journalism: Broadcast, added: "It is great to see Marcus receiving this prestigious award for his excellent series of TV packages. Marcus produced this series for his final major project helping him to graduate with First Class Honours.
“He joins a list of award-winners from our courses based at our MediaCity campus. Congratulations, Marcus on this well-deserved success!”
Fellow Salford graduates Joseph Macaulay, Callum Atherton, Phoenix Thompson and Archie Williams were also nominated on the night for their short film Double Yellows in the Undergraduate Entertainment and Comedy Drama category.
Despite not securing success on the night, the comedy was awarded Best Short Comedy Film at the Lit Laughs International Comedy Film Festival 2022 and has been shown at Manchester Film Festival.
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