First-year Television Production students will crew the University’s television studio, led by Course Co-ordinator Kathryn Wolfe and professional director David Crossman. The panel discussion will be hosted by third-year Media Performance student Sarel Madziya, and feature academics Mark Margeretten and Elizabeth Bailey, and Senior Lecturer in Journalism Kate Ironside.

Professor Karen Randell, Head of Media Arts and Production, added:

“BedsTV will be part of a larger student television network linked through NaSTA [The National Student Television Association], giving Bedfordshire students the potential to work with their peers in universities across the country and start their media networking in preparation for graduation.”

Forty students from across the Journalism and Communications department will be working all night on election day, capturing interviews and footage from counting stations across Bedfordshire which will be used in the programme and also sent to the BBC for local coverage.

Professor Alexis Weedon, Head of Journalism and Communications, said:

“This is an excellent opportunity for our Journalism students to get first-hand experience of covering a very important election.”

Bill Rammell welcomed the launch of BedsTV, saying it “provides a great opportunity for all our media students and is the latest in a long line of developments to enhance the student experience.”

The cross collaboration has extended to the School of Art and Design, with second-year Graphic Design student Ryan Sigward designing the logo.

The programme airs at 2pm and can be watched on the BedsTV or through livestream.