AKS A-Level Sociology Students Get Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Access at BBC Breakfast

On 9th October, AKS Lytham’s Upper Sixth A-Level Sociology students had a unique opportunity to visit Media City in Salford Quays, where they were treated to a live broadcast of the BBC Breakfast show. The visit was made possible by renowned alumnus Richard Frediani, Editor of BBC Breakfast and BBC News at One, who generously facilitated the experience for the students.

Richard Frediani, who attended King Edward VII School between 1974 and 1984, has had an illustrious career in journalism spanning over three decades. Starting at Red Rose Radio, he has held significant roles at ITV News and ITV Granada, including Programme Editor for ITV News at Ten and News at 6.30. Frediani has been recognised with multiple awards, including BAFTA and National Royal Television Society honours, and has played a key role in mentoring new talents in the industry. In 2019, he was appointed Editor of BBC Breakfast, and this year added BBC News at One to his responsibilities.

The visit offered students a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the operations of a major news outlet. A-Level Sociology student Nick shared his experience:

"After navigating through the hustle of busy journalists and reporters, we were escorted into the gallery—the editing suite of BBC Breakfast—where we had the chance to watch the show unfold live. It was fascinating to see the work behind the camera, and meeting the presenters, Jon Kay and Sally Nugent, was completely surreal. We even sat in on a scheduling meeting for the following day's broadcast, which gave us insight into how news stories are selected and prioritised. This experience really brought our Sociology topic on The Selection and Presentation of the News to life and gave us a deeper appreciation for traditional news broadcasting in today’s digital age."

Following the live broadcast, the students visited the Trafford Centre to conduct a case study on globalisation, as part of their Culture and Identity topic. The task involved cataloguing the diverse range of food outlets and examining the origins of the companies. The students discovered that the Trafford Centre’s 30 million annual visitors are treated to an array of global cuisines, reflecting the UK's increasing taste for international flavours. Interestingly, several restaurants they assumed were global brands, such as Barburrito and Tampopo, were in fact British-born, originating from Manchester.

Nick added, "I too got caught up in the consumerism of the Trafford Centre by buying a jumper from the American brand, Hollister."

This immersive experience provided students with invaluable real-world context for their studies, highlighting the intersection of media, culture, and globalisation.

We are grateful to Richard Frediani for offering such an inspiring opportunity to the next generation of sociologists!