The Media Mentor

On this episode I talk about travelling to and working in Moldova. It's a country living in the shadow of Russia's war in neighbouring Ukraine. Its journalists face challenges that are difficult for many of us working in the UK to imagine, from political interference and disinformation to the restrictions imposed by the very social media platforms they rely on to reach their audiences. And...

What does it really mean to be authentic? And how do you build a personal brand that helps you stand out in an increasingly crowded world? In this episode, I'm joined by personal branding expert and sustainability champion Kelli Nelson , a former radio colleague whose career has taken her from broadcasting to advertising, sustainability and helping professionals find their voice. The main focu...

Do you tell people you are passionate about PR? Journalism? Communications? Media? It's one of the most overused words in job applications, CVs and interviews. But does telling an employer you're passionate about something actually mean anything? In this episode I chat to Sarolta Acs, a Budapest-based PR professional, educator and mentor who has worked on international campaigns for brands...

What does it take to build a successful career in television journalism? And how do you know when you're ready to take the next step? In this episode I talk to Katya Fowler, an ITV journalist covering Wales, to reflect on her journey from university graduate to reporting for one of the UK's biggest broadcasters. When Katya first contacted me in 2021, she was working as a video journalist a...

In this special episode I am on the road at the Community Media Festival in London, meeting people working across radio, podcasts and audio. The episode begins with radio futurologist James Cridland , who argues that while listeners can now get music, news and information from almost anywhere, the need for human connection and shared experience hasn't disappeared. I also speak to Aradhna Tayal...

In this episode I talk to Jonathan Paterson , Chair of Trustees at the John Schofield Trust, about the changing pathways into journalism and why mentoring, networking and practical support can make such a difference to people starting out. The traditional route into journalism once often involved starting at a local newspaper or radio station before moving on to bigger organisations. But as local...

How much should you work for free to get into the media industry? Volunteering, work experience, internships and placements can all be valuable ways to develop skills, build confidence and make contacts. But where is the line between gaining meaningful experience and simply doing a job without being paid? In this episode I chat to Emily Robinson-Hardy, a journalism student at the University of Nor...

What does it really take to build a career in media? In this episode I am joined by data journalist Umar Hassan, almost ten years after he first had a mentoring session. Umar’s career has taken anything but a straight line. From B2B magazines and freelance work to a master’s in data journalism. His experience is a great example of why careers rarely follow the neat staircase we are sometimes promi...

The BBC's current Charter comes to an end in 2027. So what happens next? The media landscape around it has changed dramatically as audiences move online, traditional television viewing declines, competition grows and the licence fee itself is increasingly difficult to defend. So should we simply renew the existing system or is this an opportunity to rethink public media completely? This week I'm j...

What happens when the job you've loved for years suddenly disappears? And what do you do when the skills you've spent decades developing seem tied to one particular industry? In this episode, my guest is Peter Gordon , my first radio mentor and a colleague from the very beginning of my own career. Peter and I first worked together at Star FM in Slough more than 30 years ago. He went on to become t...

What should you charge for your work? How do you know whether you're being paid fairly? And how do you build a sustainable career when your workload, income and even your job title can change from week to week? In this episode, I talk to freelance journalist and podcast host Grace McIntosh about the realities of building a freelance career in media. Grace has been freelancing in one form or anothe...

What exactly counts as a media job? For Clare Mansell, the answer has changed dramatically over a 30-year career that has taken her from commercial radio and BFBS to podcasting, digital marketing and, ultimately, becoming a successful YouTube content creator. Clare now runs one of the UK's biggest home appliance YouTube channels, with more than 14 million views and content reaching around two mill...

What happens when audiences increasingly get their news from people rather than news organisations? In this episode of The Media Mentor , I talk to Nic Newman , Senior Research Associate at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford, about the rise of news creators and influencers and what their growing influence means for traditional journalism. What exactly is...

What happens when graduation doesn't lead to the career you imagined? In this episode of The Media Mentor , I catch up with former mentoring client Emily D'Souza , who first came to me during the pandemic feeling completely lost after university. Like many graduates, she was struggling with rejection, uncertainty and wondering whether a career in media was ever going to happen. Fast forward a few...

On this episode I talk to Rosa Simkin, winner of the MCC Young Female Broadcaster competition 2026 . Now in its third year, the competition aims to increase opportunities for young women building a career in sports broadcasting, whilst uncovering and supporting the next generation of female broadcasting talent in cricket. Here Rosa talks about how she has already built an impressive portfolio of w...

On this episode I talk to Manni Rai , a Talent Acquisition Partner at Reach plc and Qualified Careers Adviser to give us the inside word on what recruiters are looking for from applicants. Manni's views are his own but give a brilliant insight into what candidates often do wrong when applying for jobs. The Media Mentor is here to help your media career, whether you are starting out, or if you are...

For this episode I share some key learnings and tips from The Media Voices Publishers Summit and Awards . This is where the likes of Reach, Hearst, The Telegraph, Tortoise and Goalhanger talk about the latest trends around newsletters and podcasts. Here I share some of the highlights from the panels and masterclasses and other tips about connecting with an audience. The Media Mentor is here to hel...

This week I discuss AI and its impact on applications and recruitment. Should you use it for CVs and cover letters and how do you break through these automated systems? These are questions I tackle as well as sharing my advice on how best to use AI. I also reflect on a future of podcasting event and share some of the key takeaways. If you are struggling with job applications, then support and ment...

In the UK, only around 16 percent of journalists and broadcasting employees are from ethnic minority backgrounds, while across media only about one in 12 people are from lower socio-economic backgrounds. One scheme trying to change those statistics is The Travel Media Awards Step Up programme . Now in its third year, it offers five paid summer internships designed to bring fresh voices and diverse...

When Clive Hammond came to me for help in 2021 he had hit an application brick wall. He was getting very few replies from applications and wanted to know how to get more positive repsonses. Within a few weeks of us working on his CV, Clive was attending a BBC recruitment event and getting added to its pool of talent. But then his life was about to change forever, when he suffered a serious health...

Finding a job in media is tough enough in 2026, but finding an internship or placement can be even harder. On this episode I share advice and guidance on how to handle the search and how to maximise the experience. Joining me to discuss this and ask questions are two students hoping for a career in journalism; Eliska Janska and Renata Pernegrova. If you are looking to land your first job in media...

This week my guests are Arlie Adlington from the charity Multitrack and Nina Garthwaite, the founder of In The Dark. They discuss The Audio Artist Pathway which they have launched together and runs from September to support experienced audio professionals looking to expand their creative practice, skills and ability to find paid opportunities. You have until the end of May to apply. If you ar...

This week my guest is Jason Rosam, who runs Riverside Radio in London and is about to launch Westminster Waves , a new community station at the University of Westminster in London. Jason shares his experience of launching two radio stations and talks about how you find and build your audience, how funding is raised and why it is such a great place to build your CV and learn about the industry. Jas...

The Media Mentor podcast is where I offer media career guidance and share experiences and expertise from the creative industries. This week I discuss community radio with student Izzy Brown. In the first part of two episodes about community radio, she asks some of the key questions about setting up a station and what you need to consider. Izzy wants to launch a station in south-east London and has...

On this episode of The Media Mentor I unpick what Making Tax Digital means for sole traders and those working self-employed or freelance in media. My guest is Michael McCullion from Bright Ideas Accountancy - and here he explains what you have to do if you're a sole trader, or what you should have done already! Plus, he talks about managing your accounts properly and some of the issues around expe...