My original idea how I decided who I would interview for my project. As well as the driving force behind wanting to base my Major Multimedia Project on this topic.
My idea for my Major Multimedia Project is to document a campaign to make a new Diabetic treatment free to prescribe across England. The Flash glucose monitor is funded by 60% of areas in England, why is it not being funded by 100%?
The device is a flash glucose monitor called FreeStyle-Libre, it’s a small sensor that is worn on skin. It stores your blood glucose (also known as blood sugar) levels continuously and Diabetics can access them by scanning the sensor whenever they want.
I originally planned to go with the angle that it was a postcode lottery- looking into why the treatment is available to people depending on where they live. But a few weeks after I sourced some of my interviews the BBC ran the story with the same angle. So I changed my Angle to focus if the treatment is worth funding.
I came about this idea because my Mum is a Type One Diabetic who was put on the FreeStyle-Libre as a trial to see if it would benefit her health, and It did help her a lot, but the trial only lasted a month and we live in Kent, an area where this treatment is not funded. The trial was a way of Doctor’s trying to prove to the Hospital’s purse holders that it’s worth the money. That’s when I decided to document the campaign in the hopes that it raises awareness.
For my investigation I have interviewed: Doctor specialising in Diabetes, Diabetic Nurse, Diabetic nutritionist, a CCG (Hospital director who decides if their area funds certain treatments), and two Diabetic case studies. I acted fast to get these interviews because I originally wanted to pitch my documentary for BBC Radio Kent- It’s where I live so I would have to get the interviews before I went back to University in Bournemouth.
However, after speaking with lecturers I was advised to pitch it as a national story for BBC Radio 4. So I did, but after pitching this idea to my lecturers they could sense I was very passionate about the subject, because of my Mum being a Diabetic, so they advised I remain impartial in my documentary because that’s BBC Radio 4’s style, and advocate for the Campaign #Fightforflash in my blog.
Now I’m looking to edit my interviews and put together groups of answers I could use.