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Lou Birt

Senior Lecturer in Journalism

I’m passionate about multi-platform working and the importance of it for new journalists. Understanding what radio, TV, social media and online needs is a key part of almost every journalistic role right now.

Biography

I have always thought journalism is the best job in the world. Every day is different and I love helping people find a career they find fulfilling and exciting. I started out more than 30 years ago by qualifying with the NCTJ and then working for local newspapers, before getting a job with the BBC as a broadcast journalist. I did a variety of jobs including reporter, news editor, presenter and producer in BBC local radio, before moving to BBC Radio 5 Live, where I remained for more than 10 years. I worked with some fantastic talent there, including Victoria Derbyshire, Nicky Campbell, Simon Mayo, Mark Kermode and was a programme Editor by the time I left.

I joined Global as Deputy Managing Editor of LBC, the talk radio station, where I worked with phone-in presenters like James O’Brien, Nick Ferrari, Iain Dale and Emma Barnett.

On rejoining the BBC, I worked at BBC Radio 4 as Assistant Editor on World at One, PM and Broadcasting House before becoming the Editor of BBC Essex, a radio station based in Chelmsford. When the BBC changed to a Digital First model prioritising Online, I moved to Birmingham, where I was Senior News Editor for the West Midlands, responsible for Midlands Today, the regional news programme on BBC1 at 6.30pm, news content on five radio stations and six Online indexes.

I’ve got a great contacts book to help with placements and potential jobs and a passion for idea-generation because newsrooms thrive on original ideas, politics, audience interaction and great writing.

https://www.glos.ac.uk/profile/lou-birt/