In this episode of Spotlight, Caspian interviews renowned voice artist Andrew Wincott, celebrated for his 22 years on BBC's The Archers and for award-winning performances in video games like Baldur's Gate 3, which earned him a BAFTA. Andrew shares his journey from Oxford to classical theatre and becoming a versatile voice in radio, audiobooks, and video games. He discusses his early years training in acting, his first role in BBC Radio Drama, and the unique challenges of voice work across genres. From motion capture in fantasy games to the intricate preparation needed for audiobooks, Andrew offers insights into the world of audio performance and the evolving nature of storytelling in media.

This episode was recorded as part of a live event in October 2024.

Oxford Media Society is the foremost forum within the University of Oxford for discussion about the media industry in the 21st century. The Society hosts interviews with world-class speakers, leads interactive skills and employability workshops, and connects students to organisations and opportunities within the media sphere. To learn more, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on socials @oxfordmediasoc and @spotlightpod.ox

Credits:

Host: Caspian Wagner

Producer: Antonia Rogers

Editors: Caspian Wagner & Alice Hazell

Directors: Alice Hazell & Antonia Rogers

Composer: Ariana May

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saira Khan, broadcaster and entrepreneur, rose to prominence as the runner-up on the first season of The Apprentice in 2005. Since then, she’s become a familiar face on UK television, from hard-hitting documentaries to her roles as a panellist on Loose Women and The Martin Lewis Money Show. In this episode, Alice Hazell speaks with Saira about her journey from corporate sales to television, the impact of her immigrant background, and her commitment to diversity and authenticity in media.

Saira discusses her resilience in navigating the challenges of being a woman of colour in the media industry, her passion for sharing underrepresented stories, and the balance between business acumen and personal integrity. She shares her philosophy of building a “life CV”—crafting a legacy of stories worth telling—and her insights on creating a personal brand that resonates deeply with audiences. Through her candid reflections, Saira explores the evolution of traditional and social media, the significance of cultural understanding, and the importance of staying true to oneself.

Oxford Media Society is the foremost forum within the University of Oxford for discussion about the media industry in the 21st century. The Society hosts interviews with world-class speakers, leads interactive skills and employability workshops, and connects students to organisations and opportunities within the media sphere. To learn more, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on socials @oxfordmediasoc and @spotlightpod.ox

Credits:

Host & Editor: Alice Hazell

Producer: Antonia Rogers

Directors: Alice Hazell & Antonia Rogers

Composer: Ariana May

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

William Lee Adams is a London-based journalist, broadcaster, and author, currently with the BBC World Service. Originally from Georgia in the United States, he studied psychology at Harvard before moving to London to pursue a master’s in Southeast Asian Studies. In addition to his work in journalism, William is the founder of Wiwibloggs, a leading platform dedicated to the Eurovision Song Contest, and recently produced a documentary for the BBC chronicling a personal journey through the country that shaped his family - Vietnam: Return to Banana Garden Market.

In this episode, Jan Maciejewski interviews William about his multifaceted career, from navigating the competitive worlds of American and British journalism to building a global community around Eurovision. They delve into his creative inspirations, the evolution of journalism throughout his career, and the contrasting landscapes of UK and US media. William reflects on his Vietnamese heritage, his journey of self-discovery, and the deeply personal experiences behind his recent documentary. With candid stories and invaluable career advice, William’s insights offer a heartfelt and inspiring listen for anyone passionate about media, storytelling, and cultural exploration.

Oxford Media Society is the foremost forum within the University of Oxford for discussion about the media industry in the 21st century. The Society hosts interviews with world-class speakers, leads interactive skills and employability workshops, and connects students to organisations and opportunities within the media sphere. To learn more, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on socials @oxfordmediasoc and @spotlightpod.ox

Credits:

Host & Editor: Jan Maciejewski

Producer: Alice Hazell & Guy McEwing

Directors: Alice Hazell & Antonia Rogers

Composer: Ariana May

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was recorded in June 2024 as part of a live, audience-attended event.

Lauren Layfield is a broadcaster, journalist, and author. Known for her versatility, Lauren has worked across various media platforms, from presenting on CBBC and Capital Radio to her current roles on BBC Radio 1’s Life Hacks and The Official Chart: First Look. She’s also a DJ, mental health advocate, and author of the children's novel Indi Raye is Totally Faking It.

In this episode, Alice Hazell speaks to Lauren about her journey through the media industry, from her early love for local radio to her diverse career in broadcasting. They explore the challenges of moving from hard-hitting journalism to children’s TV, her love for live radio, and her thoughts on the changing media landscape. Lauren also shares valuable advice for aspiring broadcasters, revealing how patience, persistence, and authenticity helped her achieve her dream job at Radio 1. Full of humour and wisdom, Lauren's reflections are both insightful and inspiring.

Oxford Media Society is the foremost forum within the University of Oxford for discussion about the media industry in the 21st century. The Society hosts interviews with world-class speakers, leads interactive skills and employability workshops, and connects students to organisations and opportunities within the media sphere. To learn more, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on socials @oxfordmediasoc and @spotlightpod.ox

Credits:

Host & Editor: Alice Hazell

Producer: Antonia Rogers & Sofia Johanson

Director: Alice Hazell

Composer: Ariana May

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jane Thynne is a novelist, journalist and broadcaster. An alumna of St. Anne's, Jane has worked as a journalist for the BBC, The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Independent. Passionate about historical fiction, she has published 12 novels. Her most recent, Queen High, was picked as a 2022 Book of the Year by the Daily Telegraph, Financial Times and Guardian.

In this episode, Archie Pearman speaks to Jane about her career from her beginnings in broadcasting to her career on Fleet Street. They discuss how her time at Oxford has shaped her career, how journalism has changed over the last 40 years, and her advice for any aspiring journalists or authors to enter the industry. She also shares an insight into her writing process: the challenges and delights of writing historical fiction, the inspiration behind her book 'Widowland,' and how she fights distractions. Jane's anecdotes, advice and nuanced view of the world are invaluable and entertaining - a true pleasure to listen to.

Oxford Media Society is the foremost forum within the University of Oxford for discussion about the media industry in the 21st century. The Society hosts interviews with world-class speakers, leads interactive skills and employability workshops, and connects students to organisations and opportunities within the media sphere. To learn more, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on socials @oxfordmediasoc

Credits:

Host & Editor: Archie Pearman

Producer: Antonia Rogers

Director: Alice Hazell

Composer: Henry Nurse

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sofia Johanson interviews Rachel Cunliffe. Rachel is the associate political editor of The New Statesman. Having previously served as Comment and Features Editor at City AM, she now covers Westminster and national politics, interviewing MPs such as John Hayes and Chris Skidmore and the head of the Vote Leave campaign, Matthew Elliot. Rachel is a regular contributor to the New Statesmen Podcast, and she also writes about her own life, from "The Disaster House" to personal essays in the Deleted Scenes Column.

Rachel discusses her beginnings in journalism, her career over the last decade, and the challenges of being a political journalist in the modern world - from the tumultuous nature of contemporary politics, to facing the real dangers that come with being a journalist in the digital age. She shares the need to be flexible in order to excel in modern journalism, her experiences writing about her own life, and the story behind her favourite interview to date.

Oxford Media Society is the foremost forum within the University of Oxford for discussion about the media industry in the 21st century. The Society hosts interviews with world-class speakers, leads interactive skills and employability workshops, and connects students to organisations and opportunities within the media sphere. To learn more, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on socials @oxfordmediasoc

Credits:

Host & Editor: Sofia Johanson

Producer: Eden Kilgour

Director: Alice Hazell

Composer: Henry Nurse

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Spotlight, Antonia Rogers speaks to the Director of Comedy at the BBC, Jon Petrie. In his extensive career in comedy, he has overseen beloved TV shows such as Friday Night Dinner, the Windsors and People Just Do Nothing. He is responsible for the commissioning of all scripted comedy programmes to the BBC, and his most recent commissions include the third series of The Cleaner, featuring Greg Davies, Cunk's Quest for Meaning, and And Did Those Feet... with Alan Partridge.

Jon shares his path into producing TV comedy, and his advice for anyone wanting to enter into the field. Antonia and Jon also discuss the complexities of commissioning comedy for the BBC, and what the purpose of comedy should be. With a career full of highlights, it's a privilege to listen to Jon's expertise and experiences in the industry.

Oxford Media Society is the foremost forum within the University of Oxford for discussion about the media industry in the 21st century. The Society hosts interviews with world-class speakers, leads interactive skills and employability workshops, and connects students to organisations and opportunities within the media sphere. To learn more, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on socials @oxfordmediasoc

Credits:

Host & Editor: Antonia Rogers

Producer: Archie Pearman

Director: Alice Hazell

Composer: Henry Nurse

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Archie Pearman speaks to David Rintoul. David is an actor with a wealth of appearances on the stage, screen and in audio. He has worked extensively with the Royal National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, and his TV credits include Doctor Finlay, Pride and Prejudice (1980), and Game of Thrones. His film work includes the title role in Legend of the Werewolf (1975), Is Anybody There? (2008), and The Ghost Writer with Pierce Brosnan and Ewan McGregor.

Archie and David discuss his path to becoming a professional actor, from his experiences in student productions at Edinburgh to his work with the RSC and on-screen. They also discuss the mechanics of acting, from narration technique (including a special performance of Winnie the Pooh) to the differences between stage and screen. With 50 years of experience as an actor, David provides an intimate and unrivalled insight into the world of drama, sharing the highs and lows of the industry.

Oxford Media Society is the foremost forum within the University of Oxford for discussion about the media industry in the 21st century. The Society hosts interviews with world-class speakers, leads interactive skills and employability workshops, and connects students to organisations and opportunities within the media sphere. To learn more, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on socials @oxfordmediasoc

Credits:

Host: Archie Pearman

Director: Alice Hazell

Producers: Sofia Johanson & Antonia Rogers

Composer: Henry Nurse

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Spotlight, Sofia speaks to Ossian Shine, the Global Sports Editor for Reuters News. Having previously focussed on tennis and the Olympics during his two decades with the agency, he has covered Football and Rugby World Cups, various Olympic games, and Wimbledon amongst countless other international sporting events, including the most recent Super Bowl.

Ossian shares how he entered the field of sports journalism and his insights into how the industry has changed during his career. From how technology has changed the purpose of sports journalism, to the rise of women's sports, Ossian offers a window into this ever-changing field.

Oxford Media Society is the foremost forum within the University of Oxford for discussion about the media industry in the 21st century. The Society hosts interviews with world-class speakers, leads interactive skills and employability workshops, and connects students to organisations and opportunities within the media sphere. To learn more, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on socials @oxfordmediasoc

Credits:

Host & Editor: Sofia Johanson

Director & Producer: Alice Hazell

Composer: Henry Nurse

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Spotlight, Flora Symington speaks to BBC Radio 4 Commissioning Editor for Drama and Fiction, Alison Hindell. An alumna of Somerville, Alison started her career at the Royal Shakespeare Company before moving into radio. Having been head of Audio Drama at the BBC since 2005, she has directed more than 270 radio dramas, including the iconic Archers. Her recent commissions include Daphne du Maurier's Beside Myself, featuring Helena Bonham Carter and Bill Nighy, and the Limelights podcast series.

Alison brings her extraordinary insight to Spotlight, sharing how she chooses the most compelling scripts and what makes a good radio drama. Alison and Flora also discuss the impact of the Archers' domestic abuse storyline, which Alison was the producer for, and the power of drama to make a genuine impact, whether that be changing perspectives or turning a novel into a bestseller.

Oxford Media Society is the foremost forum within the University of Oxford for discussion about the media industry in the 21st century. The Society hosts interviews with world-class speakers, leads interactive skills and employability workshops, and connects students to organisations and opportunities within the media sphere. To learn more, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on socials @oxfordmediasoc

Credits:

Host & Editor: Flora Symington

Director: Alice Hazell

Producer: Archie Pearman

Composer: Henry Nurse

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.