Ken Macquarie
Ken Macquarie's career in broadcasting spans almost 30 years starting as a researcher on a 6mth contract in 1975 to his current job as Controller of BBC Scotland. His first job was working on Gaelic language programmes and gave him an opportunity to get involved in all aspects of television production. "And that's what it's all about - seizing every opportunity and making as much of it as you can. I loved that job and learnt from the camera operators, the technical crews, the director and the reporters. And it opened up doors for me. I went from there to BBC Highlands, a new radio station that had just started, where I helped build new programs."
The audio visual industries in Scotland are a vibrant sector centred in and around Edinburgh, Glasgow - home of Channel 4, Scottish Media Group and Wark Clements.
"Skills and training are vital in this industry. Not just at the outset but throughout people's careers. We work in one of the fastest changing industries in the UK and not just because of the speed at which the technology advances but also because of the changing demands of audiences. Our workforce has to keep up with those changes - technical, creative, editorial and craft. There's a high linkage between skills and creative self confidence which is what we depend upon to be successful and it's our responsibility as employers to foster that creativity in our people to ensure we stay ahead."
A career in media is a popular draw for many young people making jobs in the industry vastly oversubscribed but despite this fierce competition many candidates let themselves down by not researching the field they are trying to get into. "You really do have to know your stuff - whether it's TV, Radio or the games sector. You'd be amazed how many people turn up for interviews without any knowledge of the program they've applied for a job on. The industry is looking for passion, enthusiasm and people who have opinions about the end products out there at the moment and ideas for new ones. Having a successful career in this business also takes commitment and resilience. You have to be prepared for rejection and not let it hold you back. "
The audio visual industries in Scotland are a vibrant sector centred in and around Edinburgh, Glasgow - home of Channel 4, Scottish Media Group and Wark Clements.
"Skills and training are vital in this industry. Not just at the outset but throughout people's careers. We work in one of the fastest changing industries in the UK and not just because of the speed at which the technology advances but also because of the changing demands of audiences. Our workforce has to keep up with those changes - technical, creative, editorial and craft. There's a high linkage between skills and creative self confidence which is what we depend upon to be successful and it's our responsibility as employers to foster that creativity in our people to ensure we stay ahead."
A career in media is a popular draw for many young people making jobs in the industry vastly oversubscribed but despite this fierce competition many candidates let themselves down by not researching the field they are trying to get into. "You really do have to know your stuff - whether it's TV, Radio or the games sector. You'd be amazed how many people turn up for interviews without any knowledge of the program they've applied for a job on. The industry is looking for passion, enthusiasm and people who have opinions about the end products out there at the moment and ideas for new ones. Having a successful career in this business also takes commitment and resilience. You have to be prepared for rejection and not let it hold you back. "
