The Media Mentor

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 focus of our conversation is personal branding. It's something I've been talking about increasingly with people I mentor, particularly those looking for work in media. With so much content being produced online, much of it now assisted by AI, how do you make yourself heard? What does authenticity actually mean? And is building your personal brand about posting constantly, gaining followers or something much more important?Kelli offers some excellent practical advice about finding your voice, sharing your opinions, building trust and understanding the value you bring to an audience.About The Media MentorI offer confidential, practical mentoring and career advice, including CV reviews, job application support, interview preparation and wider career guidance.You can book via the website.There are also 6 pages of media jobs to browse and a WhatsApp channel for alerts.If you enjoy the episode, please follow The Media Mentor Podcast and explore the previous episodes for more advice and insight into building your career in media.Read and subscribe to my newsletter on Substack and LinkedIn.

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 including Samsung, Starbucks, Pepsi and Schweppes. We share a frustration with the word 'passion' and explore why candidates need to stop making claims about their enthusiasm and instead start demonstrating their skills, knowledge and experience.Sarolta also explains how her PR CAMP (Career Accelerator Mentor Program) helps aspiring PR professionals bridge the gap between university and the workplace, using an agency-style simulation to develop practical skills and confidence.About The Media MentorI have helped hundreds of people like Katya navigate their careers in journalism, radio, podcasting, broadcasting and communications. This is is done through one-to-one sessions, including CV reviews, application and cover letter advice, interview preparation and wider career mentoring.You can book via the website.There are also 6 pages of media jobs to browse and a WhatsApp channel for alerts.Read and subscribe to my newsletter on Substack and LinkedIn.

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 at KMTV in Kent. Despite having valuable experience in filming, editing, producing packages and presenting news, she was struggling to secure interviews for her next career move. Listen to find out how I helped her progress and the lessons she has learned since.This includes adapting to unfamiliar political systems and building contacts in a small community to learning the importance of writing television scripts to pictures. She also explains why collaboration, asking questions and learning from experienced colleagues are essential to becoming a better journalist. Perhaps most importantly, Katya reflects on the opportunities she nearly talked herself out of, the value of being patient when the right job doesn't come along, and why rejection can sometimes be a useful signal that there is still more to learn.About The Media MentorI have helped hundreds of people like Katya navigate their careers in journalism, radio, podcasting, broadcasting and communications. This is is done through one-to-one sessions, including CV reviews, application and cover letter advice, interview preparation and wider career mentoring.You can book via the website.There are also 6 pages of media jobs to browse and a WhatsApp channel for alerts.Read and subscribe to my newsletter on Substack and LinkedIn.

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 Leach, Managing Director of the Audio Academy, about the organisation's move from the Radio Academy to the Audio Academy and why that change reflects the much broader world of audio today. Aradhna explains why audio's greatest strength is its ability to create a deep, personal connection with an audience.Lauren Underwood, radio presenter and host of the event, talks about how community radio helped her get started and why she believes people entering media shouldn't feel they have to have their entire career mapped out.Dom Chambers of Sound Vision explains why community media can provide a valuable pathway into the industry for people who might otherwise never see themselves as part of it and CMA council member Kevin Field talks about what community means to him.About The Media MentorI have helped hundreds of people navigate their careers in journalism, radio, podcasting, broadcasting and communications.This is is done through one-to-one sessions, including CV reviews, application and cover letter advice, interview preparation and wider career mentoring.You can book via the website.There are also 6 pages of media jobs to browse and a WhatsApp channel for alerts.Read and subscribe to my newsletter on Substack and LinkedIn.

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 opportunities have declined, university and postgraduate courses have become increasingly important, potentially creating new barriers because of their cost and accessibility.At the same time, a growing independent media and creator sector is opening up new possibilities. But, as Jonathan explains, many of the people succeeding in that space are already established journalists, making it difficult for newcomers to break in.Jonathan also discusses the John Schofield Trust's mentoring, networking and masterclass programmes, including work designed to support emerging leaders and improve the retention of diverse talent within the industry.The John Schofield Trust works to improve social mobility in UK and Irish newsrooms through mentoring and other support programmes. Find out more about its work here.About The Media MentorI have helped hundreds of people navigate their careers in journalism, radio, podcasting, broadcasting and communications.This is is done through one-to-one sessions, including CV reviews, application and cover letter advice, interview preparation and wider career mentoring.You can book via the website.There are also 6 pages of media jobs to browse and a WhatsApp channel for alerts.Read and subscribe to my newsletter on Substack and LinkedIn.

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 Northampton whose route into the industry has been anything but conventional.Before studying journalism, Emily was a semi-professional magician and appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Britain's Got Talent and America's Got Talent. She also became a member of the Magic Circle.Now preparing for her final year of a journalism degree, Emily has gained considerable experience through volunteering and community radio.She joins me to ask some difficult questions about working for free in media.As the Media Mentor I help people navigate careers in journalism, radio, podcasting, broadcasting and communications.I offer one-to-one support including CV reviews, application and cover letter advice, interview preparation and wider career mentoring.You can book via the website.There are also 6 pages of media jobs to browse and a WhatsApp channel for alerts.Read and subscribe to my newsletter on Substack and LinkedIn.

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 promised.We discuss the realities of the media job hunt, including why working hard and wanting something badly enough isn't necessarily enough. We also discuss demonstrating what you can actually do, the importance of luck and how you can sometimes create your own opportunities.If, like Umar, you want some career advice, you can book via the website.There are also 6 pages of media jobs to browse and a WhatsApp channel for alerts.Read and subscribe to my newsletter on Substack and LinkedIn.

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 joined by Matt Deegan, host of The Media Club Podcast and one of the UK's leading voices in radio and audio. Matt has produced a detailed proposal, Public Media 2028, looking at what could replace the current BBC model.We discuss why Matt thinks the status quo is no longer sustainable, whether we need public broadcasting or public content and what happens to the BBC when traditional prominence on television and radio disappears.For my career advice, you can book via the website.There are also 6 pages of media jobs to browse and a WhatsApp channel for alerts.Read and subscribe to my newsletter on Substack and LinkedIn.

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 the breakfast presenter at Eagle Radio in Guildford, where he spent more than two decades. But when the radio landscape changed, Peter's career changed with it.Rather than seeing himself simply as a former radio presenter, Peter recognised that his broadcasting experience had given him a whole range of skills that could be used elsewhere. Listen to find out more and also discover what my Gladiator name would have been, had I had the skills and muscle to star in the show!For my career advice, you can book via the website.There are also 6 pages of media jobs to browse and a WhatsApp channel for alerts.Read and subscribe to my newsletter on Substack and LinkedIn.