Former Classic FM and GWR Chief Ralph Bernard CBE has been appointed Chair of the Broadcast Journalism Training Council.
He joins former ITN/IRN executive Jon Gödel who joined the currently-restructuring organisation as Director last year
The BJTC is the UK’s industry-backed training body for online and broadcast journalism, with members including the BBC, ITV, BSkyB, ITN, Channel 4, AP and Reuters.
Ralph said: “Journalism skills have rapidly converged thanks to technology and the way we all consume our news. However, core journalism skills and standards remain the same and are as important today as they have ever been.
“It is essential UK media employers are able to advise and influence the trainers on the skills the next generation of journalist will need.”
Jon Godel added: “It’s great to have Ralph Bernard heading up our partnership of the UK’s news providers and media trainers. He has a long established reputation as a leader and being at the forefront of technology – but has never been far from his journalism roots.”
Ralph Bernard’s career has spanned over 35 years beginning as a newspaper journalist in London before moving into commercial radio at Sheffield’s Radio Hallam and then at Hereward Radio in Peterborough. He launched Wiltshire Radio in 1982, as Programme Director, becoming Managing Director in 1983. He served as Chief Executive of GWR Group from 1987 to 2001 and then as Executive Chairman at GCAP.
In September 2012 he stepped down as Chairman of Classic FM on the occasion of its 20th anniversary. Classic FM was created after Ralph led the bid for the licence in 1991. He was Classic FM’s chief executive for 11 years.
Posted on Tuesday, January 21st, 2014 at 3:02 pm by RadioToday UK