Students get behind the scenes printing preview

Second year students of the magazine production unit got an insight into the entire print production process earlier this month, at the Daily Echo’s print centre in Redbridge.

Available to those studying BA (Hons) Journalism, BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism and BA (Hons) Sport Journalism, the tour showed printing plates being created, presses and quality control stations. The huge paper and ink stores were vastly different to home printers!

Student Ellie Chivers says: “The trip was really interesting. While it didn’t relate entirely to magazines, I could definitely appreciate the whole printing process, and some of the facts - like how much paper they use and how much it weighs – was really interesting to hear.

“Seeing everything in real life really put magazine and newspaper production into perspective.”

Course leader Paul Ansell adds: “The insight into print working practices, at a commercial level, proved to be a real eye-opener for many of the students that came.

“Because the students are focused on the design stages of magazine production, it’s really useful that they now have a wealth of knowledge as to the processes their work has to go through in order to make it into print.”