Question Time producer Mentorn Media, Channel 4, the Guardian and the Institute of Education have put together a consortium to bid for the Teachers TV contract, it was announced today, (MON). Lord Puttnam and Lord Bragg are heading the bid which is also supported by major academic institutions including the Oxford Brookes University and the University of Leeds.
Lord Puttnam is Chairman of the Stakeholder’s Strategy Group while Lord Bragg is Creative Head of the Content Board. Lord Puttnam said: “I think it is very significant that the Guardian, Channel 4 and Mentorn are all organisations that have a commitment to exactly this area of public service; they have a track record in education, a commitment to education, and they know, understand and can deliver to teachers. I’m not sure you could match that in any other part of the British media. We’ve certainly got a dream team.”
Lord Bragg said: “When I was asked to come on board I leapt at the opportunity, I cannot think of anything more important in television today. And the three involved, the Guardian, Channel 4 and Mentorn, are more than qualified to provide the inspirational journalism that will be needed. This is a great medium to help our teachers reach the children of this country.”
Mentorn Media, which is part of the Tinopolis Group, has an impressive track record of programme making including recently securing a further three-year contract in the face of fierce competition, to produce BBC Question Time. In addition Mentorn makes The Big Questions for BBC, Schools Question Time, plus numerous documentaries for a range of broadcasters including Dispatches for Channel 4.
Janey Walker, Head of Education, Channel 4 said: “Channel 4 is a unique public service broadcaster which has had education at the heart of its remit since its inception 25 years ago. And today, in addition to the £70 million we spend on education programmes, we are radically revamping our educational output for 14-19 year olds by providing content on the different platforms and in the different online spaces in which they spend their time.
“Channel 4’s passion for education combined with its experience in programme-making and new media could really help Teachers TV deliver innovative and engaging educational content in a way that really works for teachers.”
In addition the bid focuses on a strong new media element. Tinopolis’ New Media division has in the past been a key supplier to BBC Learning and will coordinate a strategy with Magic Lantern and Future Lab as part of the bid. The Community Channel is also included as a strategic partner.
Chief Executive of Mentorn Media, John Willis, said: “This is a powerful and creative group of organisations all coming together with a common purpose. There’s Channel 4, a public service broadcaster committed to education with a fantastic global profile, Tinopolis, pioneers of new media and Mentorn, makers of Question Time amongst many other fantastic programmes.
“And then there’s the Guardian, the newspaper of choice amongst teachers. Together they equal an extremely powerful group of companies all of whom are committed to improving the service for teachers.”
The Institute of Education was part of the consortium that won the contract for Teachers TV in 2005, but it has now decided to switch its support. The Institute of Education’s Director, Professor Geoff Whitty, said: “Having been involved in the beginnings of Teacher TV and looking at the partners in this consortium, I think they are best placed to take it to new heights so that we can have a genuinely world class teaching profession in this country in line with the government’s ambitions.”
For further information please contact Louise Plank at Mentorn Media on 020 8995 3936 or
lou@plankpr.com or Rebecca Ladbury at Channel 4 Education on 020 7306 5547 or
rladbury@channel4.co.uk