"Journalism is not just a profession. It is the exercise by occupation of the right to free expression available to every citizen." Geoffrey Robertson and Sir Andrew Nicol, introduction to Media Law.
One of the best parts of working as a journalist is that every day can be a 'school day'.
Whether it is starting work on a new story, finding a fresh angle on a long-running story, establishing the trust of a new contact, scrapping prepared running orders to clear the decks for breaking news, or maybe best of all, meeting one of those interviewees who simply changes your perspective on something (and if you're lucky, on everything!), our working lives can be peppered with exhilaration and camaraderie as much as they are ruled by serious ethical responsibilites and the stress of hitting deadlines.
I aim to make my teaching honestly reflect the daily contemporary practice of our trade, in order to help students make their own way successfully from the world of education to the world of news gathering, reporting and production deadlines.
MA (Hons) in Logic and Moral Philosophy (University of Glasgow)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
2013 - May 2016: Outreach Manager, Scotland, for Media Trust
July 2011 - November 2013: Co-editor, Union-News.co.uk
1993 - June 2011: Senior Broadcast Journalist, BBC Scotland
French
Joint organiser, on behalf of Media Trust, with University of the West of Scotland of April 2016 conference, "Media in Scotland's Communities"; Craigmillar, Edinburgh.
Former outreach manager in Scotland for Media Trust.
Regular contributor to a range of BBC radio and TV programmes on issues in media, journalism and trade unions.
Scottish Refugee Festival media award for Broadcasting, 2016
President of the National Union of Journalists, 2009 - 2011.
Member of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), University and College Union (UCU)