Thought-provoking student documentaries about domestic abuse and mental health from University of the West of Scotland’s (UWS) Ayr campus were among the winners at this year’s Royal Television Society (RTS) Scotland Student Awards.
Bruised, by Carla Basu, an MA Broadcast Journalism student and BA Broadcast Production: TV& Radio graduate, came out top in the Journalism category. She received support on the project from graduates Lauren Fitzpatrick and Adam Millar.
The documentary explores domestic abuse, and the support available to survivors. It is currently touring schools in Falkirk, via the support service Committed to Ending Abuse.
Carla said: “It’s still sinking in, I’m absolutely delighted to have won this award. Over the past two years, I’ve worked closely with victims, survivors and support organisations to ensure this documentary was equipped to educate and inform people.
“I am incredibly grateful to the people who spoke to me, allowing me to represent their experiences and ensure their voices were heard as part of this project. I’m also grateful for the support provided by UWS. So much of what I learned went into this documentary, and my lecturers were incredibly supportive throughout.”
George Donaldson, a 2023 BA Broadcast Production: TV & Radio graduate, lifted the Editing Craft prize for his final year project, Kick Mental Health.
The documentary tells the story of a charity of the same name, which offers football drop-in sessions with a primary focus on improving mental wellbeing.
He said: “It’s a real honour to have won this award. I took great pride in this project, and the charity was incredibly helpful. It consists of fantastic people, working towards a fantastic cause. Winning this award, I think, reflects on how strong their story is, and the importance of the work they do.”
George, who is now a trainee with QTV and BBC Studioworks, added: “UWS was instrumental in making this documentary a reality, and in what I’m doing now. Many of my first opportunities within the industry came through lecturers and the contacts built while studying. I couldn’t recommend the course enough, it’s been life-changing for me.”
Kate Cotter, Programme Leader for BA Broadcast Production: TV & Radio, said: "I’m incredibly proud of Carla and George, and their success is much deserved. Both projects are thoughtful and highlight societal issues, and important paths to recovery.
"As with all creative industries courses at UWS, in Broadcast Production: TV & Radio, we pride ourselves on producing industry-ready graduates. I’ve no doubt that both Carla and George will go on to enjoy exciting and successful careers."
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