UCF’s International Journalists take first and second in top Industry awards

Two MA International Journalism graduates from University College Falmouth (UCF), Nina Saada and Amy Pollock have taken the top two spots within the Television Documentary category of the UK's prestigious Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) student awards for films completed in the summer term of their studies last year.

Nina Saada's entry, Sacrificed is a gripping and sometimes horrifying investigation into the problem of child sacrifice by traditional healers in Uganda and secured top spot. Amy Pollock's Not a Drop to Drink examines the medical, social and political issues surrounding water supply problems in Kenya and came second.

The BJTC is an association of major news organisations including the BBC, Reuters, ITN, Channel 4, CNN, IRN and Associated press and is the industry's accreditation body. Falmouth's MA in International Journalism is also accredited by the BJTC.

Speaking of Nina's film, Jim Latham of the BJTC said it was "a stunning investigation worthy of International coverage. I thought it could be broadcast on television as it stood - fantastic story".

The MA in International Journalism has a history of successfully helping students into careers in global news. Whilst at Falmouth, Nina and Amy were taught by professionals with a vast range of experience in the news industry where they learnt how to produce high quality journalism for television, radio, online and print as well as how to keep safe in volatile situations with Falmouth's unique Hostile Environment training.

Nina Saada commented: "The International Journalism MA at Falmouth is the best thing I have ever done. Not only has it kick started my career it also gave me the opportunity to travel to Africa and make my documentary on child sacrifice in Uganda. I am over the moon to have won the BJTC award for my film, and owe so much to the excellent teaching, training and experience that I gained on my Masters course."

Amy added: "Making my documentary is one of the hardest things I've ever done - and one of the most fulfilling. It's a real honour to be recognised by the BJTC."

MA International Journalism course leader George Matheson, who has reported from around the globe for the BBC, ITN and Reuters, is excited that the course is further gaining an industry wide reputation for excellent journalism: "These two films were superbly researched, shot and edited by Nina Saada and Amy Pollock. They both show the power of journalism, when used correctly, to highlight injustice and corruption. I'm very pleased that this has been recognised."

Both award winners are now working for prestigious news organisations with Nina Saada at NBC's London Bureau and Amy Pollack recently appointed to the staff at Reuters.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony in London later this year.

For further details of the Broadcast Journalism Training Council please visit http://www.bjtc.org.uk/

For further information about MA International Journalism at University College Falmouth, visit www.falmouth.ac.uk/internationaljournalism, email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 253661.

University College Falmouth is the only independent Higher Education institution in Cornwall with the powers to award degrees in its own name.  It has two campuses in Cornwall - at Woodlane in Falmouth and Tremough in Penryn (which it owns, and jointly manages with the University of Exeter) - and a third campus at Totnes in Devon, following its merger with Dartington College of Arts in 2008.

This merger created a new institution focusing on the expansion of Falmouth's expertise in Art, Design and Media and Dartington's expertise in Choreography, Music, Theatre, Art and Writing.  The Devon-based courses will relocate to a new, high-specification Performance Centre at Tremough in 2010, paving the way for a new specialist Arts University in Cornwall by 2013/2014 that will be unique to the South West.

The University College is a founding partner in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC), a unique initiative to promote regional economic regeneration through Higher Education, funded mainly by the European Union (Objective One and Convergence), the South West Regional Development Agency, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with support from Cornwall Council.

Ends

For further information about University College Falmouth, please contact Jilly Easterby Dip CIPR MCIPR, Head of Public Affairs, Telephone: 01326 213792, or email:  jilly.easterby@falmouth.ac.uk

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