Common questions
Answers about who the courses suit, how sessions run and what to bring, gathered from the questions new students and their employers ask us most.
Questions we are often asked
If you are weighing up a course, these answers cover the practical points: experience needed, kit, class size and feedback. Anything missing, ask us through the contact page.
Do I need television experience before I join a course?
No. Our courses are written for people starting out and for early-career reporters and camera operators who want firmer technique. Some students arrive having shot only on a phone, others have a few months in a local newsroom. At the start we ask about your background so your tutor can pitch exercises at the right level.
What equipment do I need to bring?
You do not need to buy anything before starting. We provide broadcast cameras, tripods, microphones and editing workstations for supervised sessions. If you own a camera and want to practise with it, tell us when you enquire and your tutor will say whether it suits the exercises. Sensible outdoor clothing is worth bringing for field days.
How large are the classes?
Sessions are kept small so that every student gets time on the camera or in front of it, and time with a tutor. Classroom topics such as ethics and law can run with a slightly larger group. Practical field and reporting work is arranged in small units, so nobody spends the day watching others.
Will I get feedback on my own work?
Yes. Reporting practice is recorded and reviewed with you by a tutor, who points to specific moments in the footage: a rushed line, a wobbly pan, a missed cutaway. Camera and editing work is looked at the same way. You leave each session knowing what to repeat and what to change.
Can I take just one course instead of the whole range?
You can. Each course stands on its own, from field camera operation to editing for broadcast, and people often choose the one that fills a gap in their current job. If you later want to add another, we can talk through which order makes sense given what you have already covered.
Where do the sessions take place?
Classroom sessions and editing work take place at our training hub at 14 Cowley Court Lane, Oxford. Field practice is arranged around Oxford with your tutor, who will confirm the meeting point and what to wear beforehand. If travel to Oxford is a concern, mention it when you get in touch.
Do you guarantee that I will find work afterwards?
No, and nobody honestly can. What we offer is solid technique, supervised practice and work you can show others. Many students use their recorded reports and edited packages when approaching newsrooms or applying for roles. How far that carries you depends on your effort, your local market and your own persistence.
How do I ask about dates and prices?
Use the contact form or call 01865 402 718, and tell us which course interests you and roughly what experience you have. We reply with available dates and a written quotation. The Prices page shows what each course costs and what is included, so you can see the figures first.