2020 Digital Art Competition – GIF Challenge

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Take part in our GIF challenge 2020!

See below for full details of the task set out by our BA (Hons) Animation course team and get creative. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for our Games & Concept Art Challenge coming soon too!

 

THE BRIEF: Create a short, looping animated GIF based on the theme of SURPRISE.

This may seem simple on the surface, but an effective GIF is often a complex idea that has been refined into a memorable, funny or clever series of images that remains powerful after several viewings. A loop is a cycle of action that starts and ends in the same way, so it will seamlessly play again and again. You may create your GIF in any way you want – drawings, models, live action, photographs etc. – but it must be appropriate for ALL audiences (so no inappropriate content!)

YOU WILL NEED: You can create your GIF in as high- or low-tech approach as you want, but you will require as a minimum an App. like ‘Gif Maker’ or similar, and a camera. You could also use Photoshop – if you have access to this. Whatever your approach – you WILL need your imagination!

HOW TO ENTER: Once completed – please share your GIF with our Animation Course Leader, Stuart Messinger, by e-mailing the file to: mynewanimationcourse@staffs.ac.uk

The Animation team will review all submitted entries and select the most effective GIFs – which will be shared on our Social Media channels.

GOOD LUCK!

 

Future Journalist 2020

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Think you’ve got what it takes to be the next shining star of journalism? Enjoy writing? Love being in front of a camera? We have the perfect opportunity for you!

The Future Journalist Awards is your chance to show off your writing or filming skills and win some awesome prizes.

Organised by Staffordshire University with the support of StaffsLive, the competition aims to discover the next generation of journalists in and around Staffordshire.

How we interact with media is changing and today’s journalists requires digital skills to stay ahead.

This year, contestants can choose between submitting a piece of written content, such as an article, review or blog, or they can opt to create a short video or audio clip using a smartphone.

Continue reading →

WW2 documentary makes waves at radio awards

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Students have earned industry recognition for a moving documentary inspired by the Nazi Occupation of the Channel Islands.

Kelvin Andrews and Chris Steers at the Student Radio Awards
Image: Kelvin Andrews and Chris Steers at the Student Radio Awards

Chris Steers and Kelvin Andrews, both studying BA (Hons) Film, Television and Radio at Staffordshire University, won silver in the Best Speech Category at the Student Radio Awards this month.

For five years the Channel Islands became the only part of the British Isles to be Occupied by the Germans during World War 2 and ‘Love, Art and Radio Resistance’ tells the tale of two women who launched a fearless yet silent campaign to undermine the regime.

Click here to read more

Charity single released in memory of teacher

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Teenagers at Cheadle Academy Sixth Form College have released a charity single to raise vital funds for the Douglas Macmillan Hospice.

Students recorded the single at Staffordshire University's Cadman Studios
Image: Students recorded the single at Staffordshire University’s Cadman Studios
 
It’s been a really exciting project to be able to raise the profile of the school choir and offer our expertise and resources to create, record, produce and release the single and video to raise money for a charity which has touched so many people’s lives.
Matt Brindley-Sadler, Associate Dean

The song, which was recorded and produced in Staffordshire University’s state of the art Cadman Studios, is in memory of their former teacher Craig Beverley who received end of life care from the Stoke-on-Trent Hospice.

University staff and students from Music and Sound have helped the choir arrange, record, produce and launch the charity single. Associate professor Marc Estibeiro and Head of Department Luke Scott have also supported the choir at their performances, including University Open Days and the academy’s annual concert, and have been able to offer advice, guidance and mentoring in relation to producing the single.

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‘Digital shed’ maker facilities launch at GradEX 2019

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Specialist equipment which ensures that students are at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies has been unveiled this week.

Alun Rogers, Vice Chair of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP at the unveiling of the Digital Shed facilities.
Image: Alun Rogers, Vice Chair of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP at the unveiling of the Digital Shed facilities.
 
This is just one example of the University’s innovative approach which is putting Staffordshire at the forefront of digital and technological education and will help us create the highly skilled jobs that will ensure a thriving local economy.
Alun Rogers, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP

Specialist equipment which ensures that Staffordshire University students are at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies and able to plug skills gaps in the region has been unveiled this week.

Part-funded by Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, the equipment is part of a ‘Digital Shed’ maker zone which will be openly accessible to students from a wide range of courses from September this year.

Inspired by Maker-spaces and ‘Fab-Labs’ the new Digital Shed, at the entrance to the Mellor building, will house a range of equipment including milling machines, 3d printers, laser cutters, a soldering station and specialist work benches and tools.

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Staffordshire University Associate Professor joins World Economic Forum Expert Network

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Peter Rudge joins a network of global thought leaders

Peter Rudge, Associate Professor and Chair of Platform
Image: Peter Rudge, Associate Professor and Chair of Platform

Staffordshire University Associate Professor and Chair of Platform, Peter Rudge, has been invited to join the World Economic Forum (WEF) Expert Network of global thought leaders.

The WEF is not-for-profit organisation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland which brings together influential leaders from all over the world to help shape global, regional, and industry agendas, and effectuate positive change. 

Members, who are invited through nomination, represent businesses, academic institutions, and government bodies that are among the world’s top innovators, disruptors, and regional champions – and who help their respective economies thrive and contribute to societal prosperity.  Famous members include Sir David Attenborough, Sir Richard Branson,, and UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres.

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Sports Journalism Student Shortlisted for Industry Prize

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Final year sports journalism student Molly Hudson has been shortlisted for Football Writer of the Year by the Sports Journalists’ Association. Molly, 20, has been encouraged to work freelance during her university studies and spent last summer working on the World Cup for the Independent.

She now writes regularly for The Times and the BBC Sport website and will be covering the Women’s World Cup in France later this year.

Molly said: “I am absolutely overwhelmed to be shortlisted for such a prestigious award, alongside many of the sports journalists that I continue to learn from and admire. The Times have supported me, and believed in me to put me forward for the award, which was an honour in itself, and I could not have built the close relationship I have with them without the help of Staffordshire University, particularly Mitch Pryce and Ian Whittell and the depth of contacts they have from years of experience in the industry.”

“It can be hard to juggle working as a freelancer in such a pressured, and high-paced field, but the lecturers at Staffs have gone out of their way to ensure I can commit time to my uni work as well as my career and maybe even have a bit of free time too!”

Molly’s course leader Mitch Pryce said: “It’s an astonishing achievement for Molly to be recognised at this level. The SJA also have a Young Sports Journalist of the Year category but Molly has leapfrogged a level into the main award. She’s competing against the likes of Henry Winter and Jonathan Liew – genuine heavyweight professional journalists”

“It’s yet another example of Staffordshire sports journalists making a real impact in the industry. Last year our alumni were named Midlands Sports Journalist (Lewis Cox) and Welsh Sports Journalist of the Year (Ben James) so Molly is adding to our legacy. We are all very proud of her.”

Listen Again to Film, TV & Radio Graduate’s Documentary on BBC Radio Stoke

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Jaspreet Singh, who graduated with a first on our BA Film, TV & Radio degree in July, has had work completed for a Radio Features module accepted for broadcast by BBC Radio Stoke as two 60 minute documentaries.

The first of which has been released looking at ‘Fandom’, the rise of film and media super-fans and collectors of pop culture memorabilia:

Click Here to listen now!