Meet the four people who teach, coordinate and support every course at zaflyra in Reading.
Our tutors come from reporting, camera work and broadcast production. They teach what they have done, and Tom keeps each group running smoothly behind the scenes.
Helen spent many years as a television news reporter and now designs and leads the on-camera reporting courses.
Daniel is a former news camera operator who teaches field technique, framing and audio capture.
Priya has worked as a broadcast producer and teaches planning and live reporting from location.
Tom looks after timetables, enquiries and learner support so each group runs smoothly.
Television journalism is learned by doing it, watching it back and doing it again. Our tutors keep groups small so every learner is seen and heard. Here is how that shapes the courses.
Each session starts with a short briefing and moves quickly to a task. Learners shoot, report or plan, and then the group looks at the result together. Theory arrives when it is needed, tied to something you have just attempted. This keeps the lessons concrete and easier to remember. It also means tutors can see problems as they happen and correct them in the moment.
Feedback is specific and given with care. A tutor will tell you what worked, what slipped and what to try next. Footage and recordings are reviewed on a screen so comments are based on what is visible. We do not offer vague praise, because it does not help anyone improve. Learners often find that watching themselves back is the most valuable part of a session.
Reporters and camera operators rarely work alone, so we teach them side by side where it helps. Pairing days let each side see the other's constraints. Reporters learn what a shot needs and operators learn how a story is built. The result is better communication on location, which is where many stories are won or lost.
Good television is built from small, careful choices. We teach framing, sound, scripting and timing as skills to practise until they become habit, not tricks to memorise.
A story should be easy to follow and easy to trust. We coach plain words, clean pictures and clear planning so viewers understand without effort.
We tell learners honestly where they are and what to improve. We also hold ourselves to clear written terms, accurate course descriptions and prompt replies.