Helen Thomas
Head of BBC Yorkshire, responsible for all television, radio and on-line services across the county, Helen Thomas, gained a BA (Hons) in Management from Bradford College in the 1980s.
Helen began her career as a trainee reporter
at Radio Aire in Leeds and then joined the
BBC in York in 1985. Helen then took a break
from her career to start a family but was
tempted back to Yorkshire Television in Leeds
and then the Minster Sound Radio Group
before re-joining the BBC as Editor of BBC
Radio Humberside in 1999.
Helen was in charge of local programmes for
East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire from March
2004, when the BBC created a new regional
headquarters. She has been a director of the
Broadcast Journalism Training Council.
“I was a student at Bradford College in the
1980’s and, like many, have fond memories.
A particular highlight was the opportunity
to spend a few months in the United States
of America while a US student spent some
time in Bradford. The exchange was ahead
of it’s time. I lived in the halls at Lesley
College in Boston - just down the road from
Harvard Yard!
My work placement was on the 44th floor of
the Prudential Tower - the home of W.E.E.I.
News Radio 59. It was 24 hour news from
the heart of Boston full of energetic, creative
people. I shadowed a news reporter on
stories across Boston seeing new technology
at work in an all speech station - while
studying the management structure as part
of my course.
I have never forgotten the experience and
left determined to work in the media.
I have used that determination and my
fair share of luck to work in both radio and
television across Yorkshire. As Head of BBC
Yorkshire I can still remember the days when
I looked out of the 44th floor window in
Boston knowing exactly what I wanted to
do. Thanks, Bradford College!”
Photograph supplied by BBC Yorkshire