Chris Nriapia, Big Screen Manager
Funnily enough, this was a job I just fell into. As a Leeds lad, I went to school, college and university in Leeds, following Media, Marketing and Public Relations disciplines. After graduating and having stints at Galaxy FM, Leeds City Council Events and a few PR agencies in between, I took the plunge and decided to set up my own business selling advertising space in a North Leeds freesheet.
Over the course of five years as my own boss, I managed to build up a database of community contacts that was second to none. I also had a great understanding of what made this city tick, so when I went for the position of BBC Big Screen Manager I knew the job was mine. Within the space of a few months I was running a team of five people managing a platform available to potentially the whole of Leeds for the world’s largest broadcaster. Wow…no pressure then.
So, three years on my place is Millennium Square and the Big Screen. We operate the screen under BBC Editorial Guidelines on behalf of Leeds City Council and Leeds Metropolitan University, who own the screen. I work on a daily basis with BBC Radio & TV, local film makers, community groups, schools and the general public, planning interesting content for the screen, along with events, exhibitions and interactive applications. The thing I love about my job is that every day is different! For example, yesterday I was watching 3D movies produced by school children, today I’ve been filming people in the city centre, tomorrow I’ll be having a meeting about an event in an ice rink and right now, I’m telling you all about it.
I think I’m probably one of only a few people that can honestly say that I love my job, I love my place and wouldn’t change it for the world.
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