Journalism and Media Week is now in its fifteenth year and has established a reputation for bringing some of the most talented and well-respected people in the industry to Leeds. 

The programme gives students the opportunity to hear from industry experts representing the UK’s leading broadcasters, newspapers, magazines and digital media organisations.

Over a week of talks, workshops, Q&A sessions and networking, these world-renowned broadcasters, journalists and industry leaders, including some of our own alumni, will provide a unique insight into what it’s like to work in today’s Journalism and Media industries.

Journalism and Media Week: 6 – 9 November 2023

The four-day programme is packed with speakers from the world of journalism, media, film and photography. It will give students the opportunity to listen to those who have been doing the role for years, as well as those who have just embarked on their careers, to find out what inspired them to choose this industry, the challenges they faced and more.

Journalism and Media Week also gives attendees a rare opportunity to get up close and network with their heroes and learn from a wide range of professionals seen on TV, heard on the radio and working behind the scenes to make it all come together.

This year, audiences can expect to hear from national journalist, Samira Ahmed (BBC), national TV news presenter and reporter, Monika Plaha and the voice of BBC football, Guy Mowbray.

Headshot of Samira Ahmed. Samira Ahmed
Monika Plaha Headshot. Monika Plaha
Headshot of Guy Mowbray. Guy Mowbray

The 2023 programme also includes a day dedicated to events curated by Channel 4 where students will hear from key journalists based in their Leeds studios.

Each day will conclude with an evening red carpet drinks reception followed by a film premiere and Q&A with some known faces and names such as actor, writer and director Ian Puleston-Davies (Tin Star, Marcella, Coronation Street) and actor, presenter and film producer Terri Dwyer (Hollyoaks, This Morning). 

The week will end with an exclusive live Empire Podcast broadcast from the team behind the popular film magazine.

View this year's schedule

TimeSessionSpeakersVenue
10.00 - 10:45am Welcome and breakfast Host AG32
11.00 - 11.45am Fighting for the Truth Abdalle Mumin - Journalist Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
12.00 - 12.45pm The Voice of Football Guy Mowbray - Chief Football Commentator - BBC Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
Lunch
2.00 - 2.45pm Upfront with Piers Piers Morgan - Presenter and Broadcaster - TalkTV Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
3.00 - 3.45pm Investigative Journalism

Monika Plaha - Journalist - BBC News/Panorama

Rahil Sheikh - Producer - BBC News/Panorama

Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
4.00 - 4.45pm NewsUK Panel Panel members Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
6.30 - 8.30pm Drinks, Film Premiere and Q&A - Chris's Story: Voicing Service User Experience Chris Rushworth, Rufus May, Ally Thornton and Alison Torn Auditorium
TimeSessionSpeakersVenue
10.00 - 10:45am Alumni Panel Ashley Colbourn, Danny O’Connor, Joseph Keith, Paul Wroblewski, Joe Rawson and Isaac Fanin Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
11.00 - 11.45am Journalism Safety Hannah Storm - Journalism Safety -Founder and Director Headlines Network Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
12.00 - 12.45pm Man on the Mic OJ Borg - Presenter and Broadcaster - BBC Radio 2 Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
Lunch
2.00 - 2.45pm Made in Yorkshire: Born. Bred. Broadcasting. Mark Robinson - Creative Director - Wise Owl Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
3.00 - 3.45pm From Teaching to Talent Luke Beddows - TV and Radio Creative Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
4.00 - 4.45pm Immersive Gaming: How to Create a Reality Liz Cable - Senior Lecturer - Leeds Trinity University Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
6.30 - 8.30pm Drinks, Film Premiere and Q&A - Where is the Line? Ricardo Barker - Filmmaker - Leeds Trinity University Auditorium
TimeSessionSpeakersVenue
10.00 - 10.45am The News with Jenkins Ciaran Jenkins - Journalist and Reporter - Channel 4 News Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
11.00 - 11.45am The Life of a Commissioner Jayne Stanger - Commissioning Editor - Steph's Packed Lunch Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
12.00 - 12.45pm Current Affairs and Commissioning with Young Audiences

Adam Vandermark - Commissioning Editor - Channel 4

Janine Thomas - Commissioning Editor - Channel 4

Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
Lunch
2.00 - 2.45pm Skills, Development and C4 Initiatives Nelia Butt - Creative Diversity Lead - Channel 4 Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
3.00 - 3.45pm Channel 4 Press and Comms

Tim English - Group Corporate Communications Manager - Channel 4

Briony Robinson - Senior External Affairs Manager - Channel 4

Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
4.00 - 4.45pm You Know When You See Me: 40 Years in TV and Film Ian Puleston-Davies - Actor, Director and Writer Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
6.30 - 9.00pm Drinks, Film Premiere and Q&A - Bolan's Shoes

Ian Puleston-Davies- Director

Terri Dwyer - Producer

Auditorium

 

TimeSessionSpeakersVenue
10.00 - 10:45am Front Row with Samira Ahmed Samira Ahmed - Presenter and Broadcaster - BBC Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
11.00 - 11.45am An Audience with Manon De Reaper Manon De Reaper - Hollywood Producer and Director Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
12.00 - 12.45pm Alumni Panel Alex Chen, Eman Shah, Katie Haseldine, Otis Holmes and Charlie Russell Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
Lunch
2.00 - 2.45pm MoJo in 2023 - BBC Smartphone Journalism Marc Blank-Settle - Mobile Journalist - BBC Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
3.00 - 3.45pm How to be a Radio Presenter

Mary Mandefield - Presenter - Noted Podcast

Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
4.00 - 4.45pm Queen of the Podcast Karen Pearson - Alumni - Folded Wing Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
6.30 - 8.30pm Live Podcast - Empire Podcast

Chris Hewitt - Presenter - Bauer

James Dyer - Presenter - Bauer

Auditorium


Who should attend?

Although Journalism and Media Week is primarily aimed at Leeds Trinity University students, we also encourage students from across the region and further afield to attend – as well as anyone with an interest in a career in Journalism or Media, those already working in the industry, and those who just want to hear more from our speakers!

Members of the public are also welcome to attend any session at Leeds Trinity's Journalism and Media Week.

We also welcome students from schools and colleges – individually or in teaching groups – and prospective students who may be considering studying with us from 2023. Please contact Lauren Cobb in our Student Recruitment and Outreach Team to find out how you can arrange this via SROHello@leedstrinity.ac.uk.

How to book

If you're a student or academic at Leeds Trinity University, there's no need to book for any of the talks during the day – just simply turn up to each session on campus.

If you are a student at another university, please contact our Journalism and Media Week team and let us know which days/talks you're interested in attending.

If you are in the media, a member of the local community or Leeds Trinity alumni, please contact the Corporate Communications team and let us know which days/talks you’re interested in attending.

For the evening red carpet events, you can book via the links in the schedule above.

Additional information

Please note that all sessions will be recorded for future educational purposes at Leeds Trinity University and we will add them to our YouTube channel after the event.

Attendees are also encouraged to post on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter during the live sessions using #LTJMW, and you can also follow the conversation @JournalismWeek.

For further information please email Corporate Communications.

r