Our Pompey Focus production is real deal for supporters
Students keep fans up to date
UNIVERSITY students have produced a television programme to help keep Pompey fans up to date with the club’s latest news and stories during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Pompey Focus production includes a look back over the last few games, a speculative look forward to many of the challenges facing the team, short video inserts, fan thoughts and memories and a Zoom interview with Pompey ladies’ goal keeper Hannah Haughton.
University of Portsmouth student Francesca Deighton said: ‘Producing Pompey Focus was a huge challenge but also one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.
‘Staff at the football club were very generous and a pleasure to work with. I’m pleased we were able to achieve this despite Covid-19 and I’m looking forward to the future of Pompey Focus.’
Fellow student Freya Blair-Davies added: ‘Having the opportunity to produce content that will reach so many people during this pandemic has been a massive privilege, and something that I’m extremely grateful for. Being able to get stuck in and work with a team, despite the various safety measures, really made everything feel almost normal again.’
The television and broadcasting students produced the show while at the same time having to comply with strict Covid guidelines.
All students involved had to complete an industryrecognised Screen Skills Covid production safety training module, to ensure filming and production were carried out professionally and safely. Freya added: ‘Being able to continue doing what we love and produce a show in such a safe way, is all thanks to the immense help and support from the staff at the University. Without their constant care and guidance none of it would have been possible.’
Charlie Watts, principal lecturer at the School of Film Media and Communication, added: ‘This project has been possible thanks to the willingness of very passionate students and the help and expertise of incredibly dedicated staff from both the university and the football club.
‘With all of the challenges that everyone faced in 2020, where there was a safe will, we found a way, and students now have an opportunity to have their work seen by upwards of 20,000 fans.’
The production is one of a series of partnership projects between the university and football club.
Staff at the football club were very generous and a pleasure to work with