Tara Walsh

Entertainment Reporter

MRH Radio Programming & Production

2018 Graduate Tara Walsh

My name is Tara Walsh and I’m the entertainment reporter for SPIN 1038 and SPIN South West. I also present my own show every Saturday from 3pm to 7pm on SPIN 1038.

My job involves writing on-air entertainment news bulletins and presenting them live every hour across the day. In addition to this, I write entertainment articles for both station’s websites.

I began my career in the Radio HND course as a student at Ballyfermot College of Further Education in 2016.

At that time I knew absolutely no one in the industry and I had very little experience in broadcasting. Thanks to my amazing lecturers, I made contacts in the industry and managed to get my foot in the door.

In my final year, I did my Erasmus to 89.7 Bay Radio in Malta, the number one station there

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCFMsgL79Aw

I can’t recommend this college highly enough

Simon O’Leary

Reporter and Producer

MND MRH MPM Radio Programming & Production

2018 Graduate Simon O’Leary

I really found my feet during the two year radio course as it was so hands on and practical.

I did Media & Broadcasting Diploma (MND) then Radio Programming & Production Diploma Level 6 Higher National Diploma (MRH) course and then Media Production Management BA Degree all in BCFE

The lecturers are so encouraging and supportive of work placements and they have the network to help you get your foot in the door of Ireland’s biggest broadcasters. It’s so important to put the theory learned in lectures into practice in the workplace as it’s the only way to get a start in the industry. Ballyfermot is so encouraging of this and I’ll always be forever grateful for their drive to get me into the workplace.

I’m now living in London and freelance as a producer for Sky News and Channel 4 News. I’m currently a reporter and producer on the BBC’s flagship day time news programme, The Victoria Derbyshire programme which airs each weekday on BBC Two and the News Channel.

See my BBC TV Report here

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07tcsfv

Jessica Maciel

Radio Presenter & Producer

MRH MPM Radio Programming & Production

I’m Jessica and I did the Radio Programming & Production Diploma Level 6 Higher National Diploma (MRH) course and then Media Production Management BA Degree.

Since I graduated in September 2018, I have been able to use all of the skills that I got from my radio course to help me progress in the industry.

The 3 years I spent in the college helped me to open up as a person and meet and network with new people. Having lecturers that have worked in the industry was such a huge advantage and really prepared me for what was to come.

I did my Erasmus in Spirit Radio in Helsinki, Finland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-dQ9B8iDgQ

I am now a Radio Presenter & Producer working with Spin 1038, 98FM, Today FM and BBC Radio 1