BBC College of Journalism

May 30, 2013

Reflections with Alex Thomson

By Caroline Schmitt ‘Reflections’ at the Frontline Club brings well known journalists to the stage to look back on their careers. Incorporating video clips, still images and articles selected by them, the host Vin Ray describes it as “a cross between Desert Island Discs and This is your Life”.  It is held in association with the BBC […]


Wednesday 29 May 2013, 7:00 PM

Reflections with Alex Thomson

Newly crowned RTS Television Journalist of the Year, Alex Thomson was described as “without question one of the UK’s leading correspondents”. He will be joining Vin Ray in conversation to reflect on a career that has seen him spend 22 years at Channel 4 News covering 20 wars across the Gulf, the Balkans, Africa and Afghanistan, as well as presenting the programme.


March 13, 2012 7:00 PM

On the media: The protesters toolkit – revolutionary apps

Governments and security forces are becoming increasingly wise to the role of social media in organising and enhancing protest movements.


February 29, 2012

Frei at The Frontline Club

By Alan Selby A packed house at The Frontline Club heard Matt Frei regale them with tales from his long and illustrious career. The former BBC Washington correspondent, recently poached by Channel 4 News, was on fine form as he spoke to former BBC executive Vin Ray about more than 20 years with the BBC: […]


February 28, 2012 7:00 PM

Reflections: Matt Frei


In association with BBC College of Journalism

Newly-appointed to Channel 4 News as Washington correspondent, Matt Frei, will be in conversation with former BBC executive Vin Ray to look back over nearly two decades at the BBC before his move was announced in May last year.


January 12, 2012

How to become a freelance foreign correspondent

By Helena Williams Last year was the year of the freelance foreign correspondent. The tumultuous events of 2011 gave freelance journalists unprecedented access to breathless, breaking news stories in the Arab world – unlike Iraq and Afghanistan, where embedding restrictions applied, freelancers were free to travel and compete on the frontline. With the increasing attraction […]


January 11, 2012 7:00 PM

FULLY BOOKED On the media: Becoming a freelance foreign correspondent


This event is now fully booked but you will be able to watch it live here and follow the discussion on #fcfreelance.

With uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa setting a relentless pace in this year’s news agenda, media outlets have frequently turned to freelances to cover events in countries where they are without staff bureaus and wire services.

The Frontline Club, in association with the BBC College of Journalism, will be bringing together a panel of freelances who will discuss the practicalities of life as a freelance foreign correspondent from setting up in a country to finding and pitching stories and dealing with the realities of conflict.


October 19, 2011

Reporting conflict: competition, pressure and risks

View in iTunes Watch the event here.  By Helena Williams In a year where 100 journalists have been killed so far while trying to tell the story, and as the media’s coverage of events rocking the Middle East have been brought into sharp relief, it seems high time to examine the delicate relationship between ensuring the […]


July 27, 2011 7:00 PM

Reflections: Paul Mason

Paul Mason will be at the Frontline Club in conversation with Matthew Eltringham, editor of the BBC College of Journalism website and events to discuss a career which has seen him cover the corporate scandals at Enron and Worldcom and stories as diverse as Hurricane Katrina, gang violence on Merseyside, the social impact of mobile phones in Africa and the rise of Aymara nationalism in Bolivia. His groundbreaking reports on the rise of China as an economic power won him the Wincott Award in 2003.


June 29, 2011

Bill Neely: masterclass in using words, pictures and sound for TV news

frontlineclub on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free The international editor for ITV News, Bill Neely delivered a fascinating masterclass in television journalism last night at the Frontline Club. Part of a regular series of ‘Reflections’ events in association with the BBC College of Journalism, in which top journalists talk about their work and those who inspired […]


June 29, 2011 7:00 PM

Reflections: Bill Neely – Northern Ireland’s Troubles to uprising in Libya

In the latest of our Reflections series, Bill Neely ITV News” international editor, will be joining us in conversation with former BBC executive Vin Ray.

Looking back at a career that includes covering major stories around the world since 2002 and posts in Europe, Washington Bill Neely will discuss the stories that he has covered and the work and people that have inspired him.


May 31, 2011 7:00 PM

FULLY BOOKED On the Media: Going it alone as a foreign correspondent

As many established media organisations are forced to cut back on their foreign bureaux, new opportunities are emerging for a new type of foreign correspondent – the independent multimedia journalist.

We’ll be bringing together a panel of experts to talk about their experiences of reporting, including kit, the realities of going it alone, and working relationships with the established news organisations.


April 14, 2011

Can Arab state-owned media recover from crisis of credibility?

Does state media have a role to play in the Arab world in the wake of revolutions in the region? A panel of experts and a packed audience discussed this at last night’s event, which was chaired by author and broadcaster Tom Fenton and in association with the BBC College of Journalism. You can listen […]


March 22, 2011 7:00 PM

POSTPONED Trial by media: Is press coverage redefining justice?

The coverage of the Joanna Yeates murder investigation has again raised questions about contempt of court laws and the way the media appears to be pushing the boundaries of reporting restrictions.
While the banning of ITV journalists at a police press conference during the investigation into the murder reflects tensions between the police and the media, the News International phone hacking scandal raises questions about the working relationship between the police and the tabloid press in particular.


March 16, 2011 7:00 PM

Reflections: Nick Robinson

In the sixth of this series of events in which journalists discuss the stories that have impacted them most and the journalists whose work has helped shape their careers. BBC political editor Nick Robinson will be in conversation with former BBC executive Vin Ray.


February 22, 2011 7:00 PM

FULLY BOOKED Masterclass: The Art of the Interview

Rottweiler or poodle? Good cop or bad cop? What is the best way for journalists to get a good interview?
We will joined by interviewer, film analyst, writer, mentor to screenwriters and conversationalist Warren Etheredge to discuss his thought-provoking ideas and tips about interviewing and his assertion that a great interview needs more than tough questioning.


February 16, 2011

How Twitter and Facebook are changing protests and journalism

    By Will Spens The recent demonstrations across the Arab world, unrest in Ireland, Greece and France and the student protests in Britain have highlighted what appears to be an unprecedented revolt against power structures around the world. Chaired by Steve Crawshaw, author and international advocacy director for Amnesty International, the discussion focused on […]


February 15, 2011 7:00 PM

FULLY BOOKED The changing nature of protest: does the mainstream media get it?

From regime change in Tunisia, persistent calls for President Mubarak to step down in Egypt, and protests in Jordan and Syria to student demonstrations in Britain and unrest in Ireland, Greece and France – we are witnessing unprecedented revolt against power structures around the world. But are journalists equipped to understand the nature of these protests, what drives them and how they are organised?


January 11, 2011 7:00 PM

On the Media: WikiLeaks – Holding up a mirror to journalism?

Throughout 2010 whistleblower website WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange were making headlines with the release of classified documents. Both the leaks and the controversy surrounding Assange have been covered extensively by the media. For the first On the Media discussion of the year we are going to be putting the spotlight on the media and asking what the WikiLeaks operation and the media coverage of it tells us about the press.


November 23, 2010

Book Review: Little Bunch of Madmen – Elements of Global Reporting

I got a copy of Little Bunch of Madmen to review for the Frontline Club amongst others on the 1st of October but have since found myself reading, and unable to put it down. It is quite compelling and ever so useful. It has since accompanied me everywhere and has become an indispensable part of […]