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Students at Leeds Trinity University will receive industry insights, employability advice, and top tips for building successful careers from a range of experienced media professionals during Journalism and Media Week, taking place Monday 2 to Thursday 5 November.
This year’s programme includes “the voice of cricket” Jonathan Agnew, who has worked in sports broadcasting for almost 40 years, Ayshah Tull, an award-winning Channel 4 News journalist and presenter, and Helen Serafinowicz, the BAFTA award-winning screenwriter behind Motherland and Amandaland, who will take part in a Q&A hosted by Nina Nannar, a journalist who has worked for ITN News for more than two decades.
There will also be an exclusive pre-recorded interview with BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty as she prepares to leave the iconic red sofa and join the BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast show, plus discussions with John Stephens, a writer on popular US comedy drama Gilmore Girls, and Phil Noble, the photographer who snapped the viral picture of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaving police custody earlier this year.
Now in its 18th year, Journalism and Media Week reflects Leeds Trinity’s long-standing reputation for career-led learning and employability. It allows students to learn directly from experienced professionals across TV, radio and podcasting, print, film, photography, and beyond while broadening their understanding of potential career paths and the essential skills required.
Since its launch, thousands of students have benefitted from the development and networking opportunities the event offers. This includes University alumni such as popular broadcasters Lauren Layfield (Broadcast Journalism, 2010) and Richie Anderson (Journalism, 2009); Alice Young (Journalism, 2020), a two-time National Newsreader of the Year; Noa Hoffman (Journalism, 2021), who won New Journalist of the Year at the British Journalist Awards just a year after graduating; and Charlie Russell (Sports Journalism, 2019), who works in Formula 1 Communications with McLaren.
Many of those have returned to Leeds Trinity to speak at Journalism and Media Week throughout its history. That will continue this year, with alumni including Abbey Maclure (Journalism, 2019), now the Assistant News Editor at the Yorkshire Evening Post, set to take part in a panel discussion about their journeys since graduating on the opening day.
Also among this year’s speakers are Sunita Bhatti, Channel 4 News’ first Head of Regions, Freya Chappell, a current BBC journalist formerly of Sky News, Chris Dawkes, Sports Correspondent for ITV Yorkshire, and Jordan Owens, Head of Communications at Leeds United.
Darren Harper, Senior Lecturer in Radio and Journalism and Journalism and Media Week lead, said: “Leeds Trinity University is committed to providing an excellent student experience and helping students prepare for their future careers by placing a strong focus on employability. Journalism and Media Week supports that by connecting students with a wide range of professionals who know what it takes to not only secure roles in today’s industry, but to succeed in it too. The knowledge and guidance they share can help our students develop their skills and gain a clearer understanding of the opportunities and challenges they may encounter as they pursue a career in media, and what they can do to make themselves stand out.
“We’re really excited about the programme we have curated this year, which has something for everyone on a Digital and Screen Media course at Leeds Trinity, and I’m sure will attract interest from further around the University and beyond. We are grateful to all the guests who have generously agreed to join us, and we look forward to hearing from them during the week.”
Leeds Trinity has been named University of the Year for Student Experience by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027, recognising its reputation for teaching excellence and outstanding student support. By bringing together academic expertise, employer perspectives, alumni experiences, and networking opportunities, initiatives such as Journalism and Media Week help provide a well-rounded student experience and ensure graduates begin their careers with the knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to succeed.
Journalism and Media Week is a hybrid event, with most sessions taking place at Leeds Trinity’s Horsforth Campus and a small number hosted virtually. More information can be found on the Journalism and Media Week webpage.
If you are a member of the public who would like to come to Journalism and Media Week, please contact reception@leedstrinity.ac.uk with details of which session(s) you would like to attend.