天美传媒 graduate and current Head of Programmes for BBC Radio 1 Rhys Hughes visited BU to give a guest lecture to students from the Faculty of Media and Communication.
Having graduated from BU 28 years ago, Rhys was on hand to offer advice to students and share his industry experience.
As the Head of Programmes for BBC Radio1 and 1Xtra since 2011, Hughes is celebrating 20 years at the organisation this year.
During his lecture, Rhys gave an informed and passionate insight into life at the BBC, covering a wide range of topics from across the spectrum of media, music, branding and representation. In particular, Rhys gave fascinating insights into the strategy that the BBC uses to survive and flourish in today鈥檚 media-laden world.
The most recent Radio1 strapline 鈥� 鈥淟isten, watch, share鈥� 鈥� guides the organisation, with 鈥渢he listen part very much pulling the carriage鈥�. There has been, however, a huge focus on visualisation and harnessing the power of social media sharing in recent times.
Armed with videos and illustrations of how Radio1 is evolving, Rhys gave examples of things that had worked well for the station, highlighting Innuendo Bingo and Live Lounge as recent examples.
Rhys said that: 鈥渄istinctiveness in a crowded marketplace鈥� is what the organisation strived for, while highlighting how rival media firms faced unprecedented, global competition in today鈥檚 mediatised world. 鈥淥ur rivals today are truly global,鈥� Rhys said, revealing a 鈥渨eird kind of pride that they had when Apple pinched Zane Lowe鈥� last week when the presenter left to work for Beats Music in the USA.
鈥淚 told Zane that it did feel like I was being dumped by a girlfriend,鈥� he said, before predicting that 鈥渢he next big Jay-Z album will likely have an interview with Zane Lowe, filmed in California, exclusive to Beats for 30 days鈥�.
Taking questions from the audience, Rhys spoke about how the BBC was making a 鈥渃onscious effort鈥� to be a diverse organisation, highlighting the success of people like Sarah Cox and Annie Mac, whom he said was 鈥渢he biggest female dance DJ in the world鈥�.
Hughes also offered guidance to the students, citing how 鈥渟torytelling, a passion for music and tenacity鈥� were absolutely key for people to succeed in modern media firms.
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