Some Observations on the EBU Master School by TCF Artistic Director Julie Shapiro For the past four years, each International Features Conference has included the presentation of work made by students from the EBU Master School (MS). These have definitely been among the highlights of each IFC. The energy within the MS program is contagious; the students' accomplishments have been outstanding. It seems that the very future of European radio storytelling is bolstered by the wisdom and experience gained through the Master School program, and greatly strengthened by the regular collaborations between veteran and emerging producers. I've come away from each IFC wishing deeply for something like the EBU Master School in the U.S., and we've begun scheming around TCF HQ about how the Third Coast might someday start a similar training program on this side of the ocean. Maybe one day. . . .The EBU (European Broadcasting Union), the largest professional association of national broadcasters in the world, started the Master School training course (managed by Nathalie Labourdette and Edwin Brys) four years ago with distinct goals in mind -- to cultivate the next generation of European radio featuremakers, to embrace changing technologies and format developments, and to support the creative evolution of the medium, while teaching the basics and celebrating the traditions of the radio feature form. To date the EBU Master School has worked with nearly 50 young producers who have each designed and completed a radio feature of their own choosing. For the fourth edition of the MS, 45 candidates from 18 different countries applied to participate. Thirteen were chosen, and as with previous MS classes, each participant worked closely for almost a year with an accomplished radio coach: Helmut Kopetzky, freelance (Germany); Lisbeth Jessen, DR (Denmark); Annick Lesage, VRT (Belgium); Stephen Erickson, freelance (Germany); and Edwin Brys, VRT (Belgium).Many of the resulting features have been broadcast nationally, and others are scheduled to air in the coming months. This is important -- radio exposure is an intergral part of every producer's career. But an equally valuable element of the Master School experience is the community that forms among participants. As a group, they help each make important decisions as they learn the ins-and-outs of radio-feature production, and support each other throughout the process. I could easily tell (through careful research during many late nights at Hughes Pub) that the MS students had become a close-knit squadron of storytellers, gained invaluable insight into radio and life beyond radio, and formed life-long friendships. The 2008-09 group even managed to collaborate musically (see Extra Audio above) by the end of their collective experience (such talent!). I'm certain their connections will remain strong, and the European airwaves will benefit in the long run as well. At the very least we can take great inspiration from their efforts
