Come with me to visit BBC News in London!

Danielle Hutchinson
Jul 14, 2025
4 min read

This year, I became a Student Fellow of the John Schofield Trust - a charity which pairs undergraduate and early-career journalists with an industry mentor who specialises in an area that interests them.

My mentor is BBC Journalist Ros Atkins, whose work spans explainer videos, radio shows, and Panorama documentaries, reflecting my interest in multimedia journalism.

In July, I had the opportunity to spend a couple of days at BBC News in London for a series of masterclasses with the John Schofield Trust, as well as a day at BBC Verify with Ros Atkins.

Below is the article I wrote about the experience for the Falmouth University 'Student Voices' page.

Our visit was also featured on the front page of the Falmouth University website and shared in 'The F Word' newsletter 'Celebrating Success' column.

I'm grateful that my mentoring continues until next year, spanning the transitional period between graduating and securing full-time professional work.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn to get real-time updates about my latest adventures into the world of journalism!

Come with me to visit BBC News in London

POSING WITH THE BEEB: BA Journalism & Creative Writing students Danielle Hutchinson and Emma Vowles outside BBC News in London, after a day of masterclasses with the John Schofield Trust.

With graduation right around the corner, it would be fair to assume that most students are unwinding after a hectic final semester and celebrating their degree with a well-deserved break.

But for two of our soon-to-be-graduates, a 6am train to London to visit BBC News proved too exciting to resist. Third-year Journalism & Creative Writing student Danielle Hutchinson has the details…

At the beginning of the year, myself and Emma applied to be Student Fellows of the John Schofield Trust – a charity which partners early-career and undergraduate journalists with a mentor in the industry.

I was lucky enough to be paired with BBC Journalist Ros Atkins, who kindly offered to show me around the newsroom in London.

We went behind the scenes of some of the most popular live radio broadcasts in the country, from the Radio 1 Breakfast show, to Jeremy Vine on Radio 2, and World at One on Radio 4. It was brilliant to meet the presenters and producers who bring the programmes to life and to witness the editorial discussions that unfold throughout the process.

A highlight for me was rounding off the day with the News at Six. We watched the headlines being rehearsed and then broadcast live from in the studio itself, before heading to the gallery to sit with the director as they monitored the output and cued in each item.

As a student journalist who currently makes all her content with second-hand camera and audio equipment, to see the technical set-up in the studios was just incredible. From cameras, to mixing desks, and autocues, the level of production and technical expertise really cemented the BBC as an aspirational workplace for me.

CAN YOU VERIFY THAT? Emma Vowles and Danielle Hutchinson at BBC Verify for a day in the workplace with their journalism mentors.

Fellow journalism student Emma is mentored by the Executive Editor of BBC Verify Lindsay McCoy. She joined Ros Atkins to give us an insight into BBC Verify and we were fortunate enough to see the intricate planning process behind their famous explainer videos.

A couple of days earlier, we visited BBC News for a day of masterclasses with the John Schofield Trust. From how to pitch stories, to working with editors and freelancing, the sessions covered everything an aspiring journalist could wish to know about breaking into the industry.

Panellists included leading journalists and editors from the BBC, ITV, and Sky News, who shared how they forged their careers and gave their advice on how to navigate the world of reporting today.

The day was also an opportunity to network with other early-career and student journalists, chat about our experiences and support one another in our endeavours. After exchanging details, the rest of the mentees began their journeys home. Having travelled all the way from Cornwall, we were thrilled to be able to stay in London and coincide the trip with meeting our mentors for an exclusive tour of BBC News.

HERE’S MY LINKEDIN: Making the most of the John Schofield Trust masterclasses as a chance to network with fellow early-career journalists.

I created a short video that encapsulated the excitement of our journey, from crossing the Tamar to crossing the threshold of the BBC, available over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLx8orQulex

Our thanks go to the John Schofield Trust for arranging the masterclasses and providing our transport to the event. Special thanks go to Ros Atkins for an exemplary tour of the BBC, introducing us to each department and sharing his insights.