University News Last updated 26 August
What began as a regular university assignment quickly grew into something far more impactful and personal for one Birmingham City University (BCU) Journalism student
Sophia Begum, founder of The City Scribbles, began Unread Messages as an assignment for her second year Radio Documentary and Podcast Production module.
The documentary explores grief and how it is shaped by our digital lives, using old messages, videos and voice notes to connect with those who are no longer with us.
The topic of the documentary was also deeply personal for Sophia.
“At the time I was only around three months into my own experience of grief after losing a close friend,” she said.
“I found myself constantly returning to my phone – rereading old messages, listening to voice notes, looking through photos and watching old videos.
“It made me realise that grief in a digital generation can be incredibly complicated.”
Sophia was hesitant to include her own story in the documentary at first. However, after submitting her assignment, BCU Lecturer in Radio Production Neil Hollins encouraged her to place her own experience at the centre of the work.
“Sophia contacted me out of the blue over the summer to tell me she’d created a new version of the documentary because of what I’d written in my feedback,” said Neil.
“It was very rewarding to hear about Sophia’s decision to make a new version of Unread Messages. I’m thrilled for her!”
Sophia said that developing Unread Messages has taught her more about journalism and grief.
She added: “Journalistically, the project has taught me a lot about trust. There is something very humbling about somebody trusting you with a painful part of their life, and it reminded me that telling human stories comes with a responsibility to handle them with care.
“Unread Messages has given me much more confidence in the kind of journalist and storyteller I want to become.”
Commending Sophia’s work on the project, Dr Rachel-Ann Charles, Course Director of BA (Hons) Journalism at BCU and Sophia’s personal tutor, said: “What’s impressive about Unread Messages is the care that Sophia brings to the difficult topic of grief.
“Journalism needs more storytellers who draw on their own lived experience and that of others treating them with the care and sensitivity they deserve.
“That’s exactly the calibre of journalist we are developing on our Journalism course here at Birmingham City University.”
The project was more than a grade for Sophia. It also helped her to process her own feelings.
“I don’t think the documentary gave me closure, because I’m not sure grief works that neatly,” said Sophia. "Instead, it helped me understand what I was feeling and gave those feelings somewhere to exist.
“I started the documentary trying to understand how other people grieve and ended up understanding a little more about my own grief in the process.
“More than anything, I want somebody who is grieving to listen to Unread Messages and feel a little less alone.”
Unread Messages has also been featured on BBC Radio WM and Unity FM.
Listen to the full documentary on The City Scribbles.