Monday 31 March 2014

Tour de France Reporter

Today I start a new job covering the Tour de France for BBC Radio Sheffield. I'll be covering every twist and turn of the greatest cycle race coming to South Yorkshire on 6th July. As a massive cycling fan it’s a huge privilege to be doing this job.

As well as explaining what the race itself is all about, there’s lots for me to look at covering including the logistical challenge for the organisers of hosting the biggest annual sporting event in the world, community groups arranging parties for the race day when the Tour goes past their homes and then what the legacy will be. There’s also the 100 day YorkshireFestival which is an extensive programme of arts and cultural events in the run up to the Grand Départ, when the Tour comes to Yorkshire.

On the day itself we'll have reporters dotted along the route, broadcasting live on what will be a momentous occasion for our area. And then when the race leaves Yorkshire I’ll have a couple of weeks off on holiday…in France watching the Tour in the Pyrenees and then the finale in Paris!


If you have any story ideas, I'd love to hear from you: mark.ansell@bbc.co.uk 

Saturday 29 March 2014

Morris Dancing

One of the great pleasures of working in regional TV news is the variety of stories you get to cover...

Morris dancing is surprisingly popular in Sheffield. And with young people too. Here's proof:

 
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Sunday 23 March 2014

Crossrail Station

Workers at the Laing O'Rourke factory in Worksop are building a train station that will be transported down to London and put together there for the Crossrail project. This was my first as-live on BBC Look North and it was pretty nerve-racking - the Transport Secretary was only available for a short time so I had to get it right in the first take.


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Sunday 16 March 2014

Hungry Kids

My first top story on BBC Look North was broadcast this week. I found, filmed, scripted and edited it - with a few useful tips from my colleagues. The story is about a worrying social trend of our times, children turning up to school hungry having not eaten a meal the night before. A head teacher in Huddersfield told me that three children in ten are arriving at her primary school very hungry. Sometimes the children haven't eaten since lunchtime the day before. The school is one of thirteen in Yorkshire that is running a breakfast club supported by Huddersfield Town Football Club.

 

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This is a good example of a story I found through social media. Before Christmas I brought in a story about a school in the Handsworth area of Sheffield that’s set up a foodbank because children are turning up to school hungry. I promoted our report on Twitter and The Huddersfield Town Foundation got in touch with me about the work they do. One of the schools they support is Ashbrow Primary which is where I filmed this story.

Sunday 9 March 2014

Sheffield United are off to Wembley!

What an incredible match to report on! Sheffield United are going to Wembley to play Hull City in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Along the way they've beaten four teams from higher divisions - Aston Villa, Fulham and Nottingham Forest and now they've seen off Charlton Athletic. I was pitch-side at full time and it felt like the stadium roof would blow off, there was so much excitement and pride from the Sheffield United faithful.


BBC Copyright. (Due to rights restrictions I couldn't include the footage of the game)

Saturday 8 March 2014

Explosives

Today I went to Mexborough, between Doncaster and Barnsley, to look into police reports of an evacuation of homes there. It turns out a man's been arrested after fireworks explosives were found at a house. A bomb disposal unit, police and firefighters were there alongside groups of bewildered residents. I filmed the story myself and interviewed people who'd had to leave their homes as well as the police officer in charge of the investigation. Quite an unusual day for people living in the town.

 
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