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Media industry stars are appointed to mentor journalism students

Four leading names from the media industry will share their expertise and experience with the next generation of journalists after being appointed to new roles at University of Gloucestershire.

The University’s School of Creative Industries have appointed four new course associates – including two of its successful graduates – to mentor students on its BA Journalism programme, strengthening its already strong links with industry.

The quartet comprises Radio 1 Newsbeat presenter Rebecca Swash, Vice documentary director Tayo Yusuff – both graduates from the BA Journalism programme – ITV news presenter Kylie Pentelow and multi-award-winning reporter, author and TikTok creator Sophia Smith Galer.

Rebecca graduated from the University in 2011, and worked as a broadcast journalist for Global and Bauer before moving to BBC Radio 1.

Tayo, who also graduated in 2011, has worked on TV shows such as The Only Way is Essex and Take Me Out, as well as Vice film Deadly Alliance: A New Coke Empire.  Currently he is working at Vice as a director, alongside brands such as YouTube, Nike, Soundcloud and Adidas. 

Tayo said: “It’s a privilege to contribute to the development of the next generation of journalists and filmmakers. It’s my ambition to inspire and welcome diverse talent to the industry.”

Kylie (pictured left) started her journalism career on the Bath Chronicle, before moving to the BBC in Bristol and then becoming a presenter on BBC East Midlands Today.

After a spell working for ITV in the United States, she returned to Britain to present for ITV West Country and ITV Wales, while regularly fronting the national ITV news at weekends and hosting The Innocence Podcast, which explores wrongful convictions.

Kylie said: “It’s an absolute honour to be a course associate at University of Gloucestershire. Journalism is such an exciting field and is evolving by the day. To be able to interact with, and hopefully inspire, the next wave of journalists will be a privilege.”

Sophia has already made her first appearance on campus, energising students with a session looking at her career so far, and encouraging them to be ambitious.

Her videos have been seen more than 130 million times, and she has written Losing It: Sex Education for the 21st Century, which was published this year.

Course leader Paul Wiltshire said: “Our course and our teaching have employability at their very core. Everything we do here is aimed at nurturing amazing journalistic team players who will have incredibly fulfilling careers.

“Our new course associates will play a crucial role in helping us to continue to achieve that goal.”

Main image: Sophia Smith Galer (centre) with journalism students at the University