Journalism and Media Week 2024

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

Journalism and Media Week also gave 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 heard from national news journalists Cathy Newman (Channel 4 News) and Jeremy Bowen (International Editor BBC News). Attendees were face-to-face with the popular radio duo Mylo and Rosie (Hits Radio Breakfast show), heard from former professional footballer Gary Bennett, and also heard from Jordan Schwarzenberger, the 27-year-old co-founder of Arcade Media, the management company for Europe’s biggest creators The Sidemen (over 244m cross channel followers, and the third most searched term on YouTube globally in 2023).

Profile photo of Cathy Newman.. Profile photo of Jeremy Bowen.. Profile photo of Mylo and Rosie.. Profile photo of Jordan Schwarzenberger..

See the full schedule

Monday 4 November
Time Session Speakers Venue
10:00 - 10:45am Welcome and Breakfast Buffet LTU Hosts AG55
11:00 - 11:45am Getting into the VFX Industry and What to Expect Ian Thompson - Digital Artist Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
12:00 - 12:45pm Alumni TV Panel Bethany Turner, Charley Bergman, Grace McGrory, Max Edge and Mike Rossiter Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
Lunch break
2:00 - 2:45pm Covering Conflict with Jeremy Bowen (Virtual) Jeremy Bowen - BBC International Editor Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
3:00 - 3:45pm Freelancing In Broadcast Johnny I'Anson - Broadcaster Mary Halloway Lecture Theatre
4:00 - 4:45pm Life - In Conversation with Ian Beesley Ian Beesley - Photographer Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
5:00 - 6:30pm Life Exhibition Co-produced with photographer, Ian Beesley Brownberrie Gallery
7:00 - 9:30pm Wordspace - Open Mic Session LTU Hosts Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
Tuesday 5 November - Screen Yorkshire Day
Time Session Speakers Venue
10:00 - 10:45am Made in Yorkshire Richard Knight - Career Support Manager Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
11:00 - 11:45am 80 Years of Blowing Things Up Rowley SFX Main Campus Running Track
12:00 - 12:45pm It Starts with the Writer Lisa Holdsworth - Award-winning Writer Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
Lunch break
2:00 - 2:45pm Visual Effects: From Low Budget to Blockbusters Ben Louden - Viridian VFX Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
3:00 - 3:45pm You've Shot It, Now What - Film Festivals and Distribution Beatrice Neumann - Head of Skills and Industry Engagement Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
4:00 - 4:45pm In Conversation with Diarmid Scrimshaw Diarmid Scrimshaw - Producer and Sheffield BAFTA Winner Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
Wednesday 6 November
Time Session Speakers Venue
10:00 - 10:45am Can I Really Make A Career From Podcasting? Darrell Brown - MD of What's The Story Sounds Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
11:00 - 11:45am What Makes Good Radio? Danny Mylo and Rosie Madison - Hits Radio (Yorkshire Breakfast Show) Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
12:00 - 12:45pm Alumni Radio Panel Amelia Riley, Erin Carney, Georgia Collins, Jess Bayley and Nick Hatton Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
1:00 - 2:00pm Breaking News with Cathy Newman (Virtual) Cathy Newman - Channel 4 News Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
Lunch break
3:00 - 3:45pm Investigative Journalism  Al Jackson and Sarah Wilson - Channel 4 Dispatches  Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
4:00 - 4:45pm Capture the Moment Dylan Maggs - Photographer Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
Thursday 7 November
Time Session Speakers Venue
10:00 - 10:45am On Message Grace Pritchard - Labour Party Regional Comms Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
11:00 - 11:45am Behind the Scenes Broadcasting at the Olympic Games Michael Weadock - TalkSPORT Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
12:00 - 12:45pm Alumni Journalism and Media Panel Abbas Younas, Danielle Nicholls, Elian Beaumont, Greg Wright and Jake Millard Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
Lunch break
2:00 - 2:45pm In Conversation with Comedy Writers Nat Saunders and James Serafinowicz Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
3:00 - 3:45pm Racism in Sport Media and Journalism Gary Bennett, retired professional footballer Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
4:00 - 4:45pm Managing Europe's Biggest Content Creators (Virtual) Jordan Schwarzenberger - Sidemen Mary Hallaway Lecture Theatre
6:30pm (7:00pm start) Leeds, Leeds, Leeds! - The Square Ball Live Podcast The Square Ball Auditorium
Download the full schedule

The History of Journalism and Media Week

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

Previous speakers at Journalism and Media Week include

  • Jeremy Vine - Presenter, Broadcaster and Journalist
  • Guy Mowbray - Chief Football Commentator - BBC
  • Rev Kate Bottley - TV Presenter
  • Harry Gration - BBC Look North Presenter
  • Samira Ahmed - Presenter and Broadcaster - BBC
  • Siobhan Greene - Outgoing Head of Commissioning for ITV Entertainment
  • Graeme Park - Hacienda DJ, Broadcaster and lecturer in media