Leeds lecturer wins BBC Achievement Award

Richard Horsman, Associate Principal Lecturer in Journalism at Leeds Trinity University College, has won the BBC Achievement Award in the fourth annual BBC North Education Partnership Awards.

The award recognises the work undertaken by an individual, team or partner organisation to develop the best opportunities for new talent to progress either directly into the industry or into education and training. Richard was nominated for the award by Leeds Trinity’s Head of Journalism, Catherine O’Connor, who praised him for his “remarkable creativity, flexibility and freshness of approach in tutoring around 400 trainees in that time, many of whom have been from unconventional and diverse backgrounds.”

Judging the BBC Achievement Award were Kay Benbow (Controller, CBeebies), Sinead Rocks (Creative Director, BBC Learning), Nick Dickson (Managing Editor, Sport TV News Production). Speaking about why Richard was successful, they said: “We felt it was his dedication, commitment and “alternative” approach to his work. He didn’t necessarily “go by the book” but what he did was inspirational and relevant – a taste of real life for his students, which would equip them for their future challenges.

Speaking about the award, Richard Horsman said: “I am delighted and humbled to have received this award. Leeds Trinity has worked closely with the BBC ever since the plans to create a major broadcast centre in the north were first proposed. Both the university college and the corporation understand the importance of developing talent in the north, and I’m proud to have been a part of the process which has led to MediaCity in Salford, with many of our former students and postgraduate trainees working there. I’m also grateful to my colleagues and managers at Leeds Trinity for supporting and tolerating my sometimes unconventional or maverick approach to developing skills in aspiring journalists”.

BBC North Education Partnership (formerly known as BBC Developing Talent) is part of BBC North, which has established partnerships with over 50 colleges and universities from across the North of England over the last four years. The awards are open to all the colleges and universities who are part of the BBC North Education Partnership network. This is the third time Leeds Trinity’s Journalism department has been successful in the awards, after receiving the BBC Journalism award in 2009 and 2011, and being nominated in 2010.