The humanity of news
News anchor Geraldine Peers on the past and present of her BBC career, and the connected community created through storytelling
The opportunity to meet broadcaster and journalist Geraldine Peers, face of BBC Oxford Television News for over two decades, was not something I predicted to happen when I started my Year 12 Didcot Sixth Form work experience with Oxford Brookes in the Journalism and Publishing department.
As a child I had also been engrossed by the the news, and so the opportunity to meet Peers has shown me the humanity of the news in a way I could only have dreamed of. Whilst the industry is becoming heavily invested in the digital space it is still intrinsically human at its core.
For Peers her career began whilst working with Timmy Mallett, television presenter and broadcaster, when she was still in school. For me my career is starting with the lessons I vow to never forget and anecdotes of Peers’ career.
The past and the future align
What became incredibly clear through the conversation with Peers is the transcendence of ‘accuracy’, regardless of whether content is being published in the traditional form or moving into the new world of short form content. It is crucial to build trust between the audience and the creator and this can arguably only be achieved through accurate reporting of the news.
A key takeaway from Peers’ insight is the ability to set boundaries and the importance of intention when doing so. Each interaction is different and needs to be personalised accordingly. In practice this translates to considering the aim of the content and the people involved.
Peers says, ‘when interviewing someone like a CEO, it is important to hold them to account’. In comparison, a gentler tone is fundamental when talking to a small business, a person recounting their experience, or ‘someone fundraising for a charity’.
Digital first
In a saturated market it has also become clearer than ever that personal brand matters, finding a niche is crucial, and that having genuine enthusiasm for the work is fundamental.
Most importantly, Peers emphasised the importance of being adaptable and forward thinking. She went on to say, what first comes to mind is the move to independent and freelance digital content, but this moves further into the future with artificial intelligence.
Finally, the future starts now. The news is at our fingertips and the ability to engage and create stories has never had fewer barriers to entry. Whether it be Timmy Mallet or TikTok your career begins with you.