Johny P - TV Presenter, Radio Broadcaster, Singer & Musician
The Skillset Millennium Awards offered talented individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds the chance to gain the skills and experience they need to break into a career in the media. Winners received a grant to complete a community based film, radio, website or print media project and up to £10,000 worth of BBC training, which included a work placement.
The awards, funded by lottery money through the Millennium Commission, were designed to improve diversity in the audio visual industries where Skillset’s Employment Census shows that ethnic minorities currently make up only 7.4% of the workforce.
The awards have kick started the careers of more than 100 talented individuals between 2001 and 2004. One such individual is 22 year old John Pitts from Sheffield who grew up thinking that getting into TV and radio was an impossible dream: “But Skillset made it a tangible reality for me. The Awards gave me the skills and the discipline I needed to get ahead. I’m a bit of a dreamer, I have so many ideas and being a part of the awards showed me how to take the technology and make those ideas actually happen.”
Johny’s radio project 'Urban Eclectic' brought together musical influences ranging from the Beatles to Marvin Gay reflecting his childhood. “I’m from a mixed race background and growing up I sometimes wondered where I fitted in. I do community work with children of multiple heritages who are having problems at school – I use MCing and poetry to relate to them. I think the mainstream media overlooks many mixed race issues and my ambition is to one day be in a position where I’m responsible for the output children watch and listen to.”
Since completing his project Johny has worked for Trouble TV as a presenter on TRBL (a daily gossip, music and chat show for children), interviewing celebrity singers Jamilia and Blu Cantrell. He is also one of 12 finalists in BBC radio 1Xtra’s talent search.
“It’s been hard work and there’s more of that to come but I’m prepared to put the effort in. The Skillset Millennium Awards has helped me so much and I want to make sure I take full advantage of the opportunities coming my way now. The presenting is fun but ultimately I see my future behind the camera, writing and directing, and thanks to Skillset I’m well on my way.”