MA Broadcast Journalism student wins Best TV Documentary at Journalism awards

The BJTC awards are held yearly and award students in a number of categories with NTU picking up three awards overall having also won Best Radio Documentary and Best TV Newsday.

Rini Ghosh, supported by supervisor and Senior Lecturer in Broadcasting and Journalism, Emma Hemmingway, produced a moving film on the hardships for thousands living on the streets of Kolkata (Calcutta). The judges commented on the piece as “beautifully shot with great interviewees.” Watch the full documentary.

Speaking on the documentary and award Emma Hemmingway, commented: " Rini Ghosh was committed to doing a documentary from her home city of Calcutta and we talked through a number of possible options before she decided to investigate the homelessness issue that afflicts the city and to try to investigate the causes of it, what it is like for people living in the city's streets and beside the railway tracks, as well as to talk to leading politicians and charity workers who are involved with the issue.

"I worked with her on the project but she then went out to India and filmed the entire project on her own, just checking in for guidance and support over TEAMS during the three weeks that she was in the city. I was so impressed with Rini's courage, her determination and her sheer hard work in getting the project realised, and in making sure she recorded the voices of the people from the streets who were the main focus of her documentary and in my view, its journalistic power.

"I have never seen a student film that has explored so comprehensively the real life experience people living in desperate circumstances- what life is like living beside a railway track with no roof over your head. Rini managed to show what life is like in a way that no other film has done, and I think this is what is so powerful - and what the judges recognised as well when they awarded her the best student documentary award."

Rini also spoke on the documentary commenting: "But what worked for me is every time I ran into her office with overzealous ideas, Dr. Hemmingway helped me narrow them down, filter them into practical options and actually helped me get there, right from the first session with her. There is a certain element of grandiosity attached to this work, and she instantly on Day One helped me get that idea.  Dr Hemmingway told me to be realistic but determined about my story. Even while filming here, I used to email her and her final word of advice worked miracles for the documentary. She wrote, "I know it's a highly emotive topic and you're right in the centre of it. But you cannot as a reporter show emotions. You have to LET THE AUDIENCE DECIDE." This was a big turning point for me, I was obviously pretty washed over by emotions now that I was often going to slums. Something I never did before despite living in Calcutta all my life. But that piece of advice made me throw away the first draft of my script and editing. Of course we are expected to do our own work. Just like a sportsperson does the whole work on the field. But when you have the best coach reminding you just the right things, you know you'll make it. After submission I got glued to documentaries. I think this is purely because of how much involved I got with the idea and how much I loved executing it."

Speaking on the support provided by NTU, Rini commented: "NTU supported me every step of the way. Beside our Course Leader Dr. Emma Hemmingway, NTU has a brilliant tech team who has my back even miles apart. I had to complete everything from India which meant that I didn't have the luxury of the high tech computers at uni or the constant help of the most wonderful tech guys who never lose patience no matter how many times you ask the same question. NTU's biggest advantage is its habit of inclusion. I have seen it from the beginning. NTU actually tries to include you, not just say things on paper. The reason why Under the Sky stands out is because it's a product of CBJ News. Only when you work with perfection, you realise its worth it. I have been obsessed with my Course Leader's brilliance even before I met her! The reason we have Gold Standards at BJTC is because of Dr. Hemmingway and others at our department."