"The Train Yard" was a radio package I wrote, recorded and produced for a University assessment. It follows the tales and stories of Mikey, a train service engineer working on maintaining the UK's train and rail network at night.

It was part of a larger "magazine" style radio show, titled "The Night Shift", aimed to educate the listener on the unknown goings on at night.

The atmosphere in this piece was all reconstructed, and the interview was recorded online, with scripted voice pieces recorded after.

Features a music track titled "Riverbanks" by Hara Noda

The Train Yard - Radio Package

This radio package was constructed on Circus Funtasia, a family-run circus that travels the UK. I wanted to create the sense that I was taking the listener on a night out with me, and learning about the full experience in the space of 4 minutes. This was written, recorded and produced by myself for a University assessment.

This package was part of a larger "magazine" style radio show, titled "Radio Road Trip", which was an immersive show set in a campervan travelling around the country. The premise was the circus tent was beside the road, and we were taking a short trip inside during our journey. The full show won the best second-year radio studio show at my university's annual award ceremony.

All audio was recorded live with a Zoom H5 recorder, with the exception of the added music track, and studio recorded voice lines from myself.

Features instrumental track - "Crazy = Genius" by Panic! at the Disco

Circus Funtasia - Radio Package

This 5-minute creative audio soundscape is crafted around Carol Ann Duffy's poem, "War Photographer". Like Duffy, I was intrigued by the challenges mentally that weigh in the minds of war photographers who have to be helpless bystanders to tragedies as part of their work. The overarching theme I want a listener to take away in this piece is our protagonist doesn't feel that they belong photographing, nor in the 'real' world where the horrors still haunt them.

The SFX were recorded with a Zoom H5, including manipulated SFX recorded in anechoic and reverberation chambers. Additional SFX sourced from Pixabay, freesound and soundsnap.

Interview clip from: "How to Survive as a War Photographer (2008) by Journeyman Pictures"

War Photographer - Creative Audio

"Foundlings" is a 15-minute radio feature telling the stories of foundlings – people who were left abandoned at birth with no trace of their biological parents or family. The feature focuses on three in particular from the UK.

Anchored by my father's own story, the audio feature aims to educate the listener on the struggles and experiences that someone who has no idea about their true start to life lives. showing the similarities and differences that foundlings have.

This was a project for my second year at University, and was nominated for "Best Audio Feature" in their annual end of year awards ceremony.

With thanks to: 
Louisa Gifford, Claire Martin & Andy Hallsworth who featured in the piece, and were so willing to share their story.

News archive sourced from: ITV, BBC, 5 News, & GB News

Lyndon Saunders for editorial advice throughout

Theme music by Katzen Tupas; additional music by Dream Protocol

CC 4.0 required attributions:
R4_00523_FR_Modern_apartment_atmosphere_with_wall_clock.wav by kevp888 -- https://freesound.org/s/701976/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Busy road in London by emilycompton -- https://freesound.org/s/572617/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
'Old 'Bookbinders'' pub ambience, then walking out outside. October 2019.wav by Halfofthesky -- https://freesound.org/s/494758/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

Foundlings - Audio Feature

This is my December 2024 radio demo, compiled of clips from my work on Shock Radio across the past year. This demo won 'Best Presenter' at the 2024 Student Radio Awards and led to me receiving a slot on the BBC Radio 1 Christmas Presenter takeover.

Matt Hallsworth Radio Demo December 2024 - SRA 'Best Presenter'

At just 20 years old, I was the youngest presenter on the 2024 Christmas presenter takeover on the UK's biggest youth station, BBC Radio 1. 

I presented a 1 hour early breakfast playlist, airing from 6-7am on Sunday 29th December 2024, after being presented the opportunity after winning the Student Radio Award for Best Presenter. These are some link highlights from the 1 hour show.

Matt Hallsworth - BBC Radio 1 Christmas Takeover Highlights

The audio highlights of two years of Matt and Issy broadcasting on Shock Radio!

Matt and Issy - Shock Radio Highlights

👋 I'm Matt Hallsworth, radio presenter & producer.

I've been a volunteer presenter / producer since 2019 and working professionally in the industry since 2024.

Presenter - BBC Radio 1 - Christmas 2024
Freelance Producer - Hits Radio, 2024 - Present

Presenter - Park Radio, 2019 - Present - Casual
Presenter - TruckersFM, 2019 - Present - Volunteer (Former Station Manager)
Presenter & Head of Radio - Shock Radio, 2022 - Present - Student Radio

🏆 Winner of Student Radio Award for 'Best Presenter'
🏆 Winner of Student Radio Award for 'Best Chart Show'
🏆 Winner of ISBC 'Best on-air team' 2023 & 2024, with Issy Brand

I currently host Monday Drivetime on Shock, and The Most Played Chart every Sunday on TruckersFM

Posting my uni work, and bits of presenting stuff here!

Matt Hallsworth

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