Rizwana Hamid, Director of the Centre for Media Monitoring, discusses the evolution of Muslim representation across print and broadcast journalism. She reflects on the rise of GB News, the debate around Ofcom regulations and media framing during the Gaza conflict. 

Timestamps 

00:53 => The Evolution of Muslim Representation in UK Media  

Rizwana Hamid discusses the changing landscape of reporting on Islam since 1988, comparing early coverage of race relations to post-9/11 scrutiny and modern right-wing commentary. 

02:45 => The Role of Regulators

04:15 => Media Framing: Gaza, Social Unrest, and Language Choice 

An analysis of headline structures, contextual accuracy, and the terminology used to describe political activists. 

06:40 => Newsroom Diversity and Editorial Decision-Making  

Why simply hiring more Muslim or diverse journalists isn't enough if editorial policies don't change, and the need for diversity in senior, decision-making positions. 

08:15 => Assessing Recent Trends in Media Relations  

You can follow the Cardiff MA Journalism students on socials: Broadcast course @cjsnewscardiff News course @cardiffiannews & Magazine course @maglabcardiff. 

Political journalist Will Hayward discusses his non-traditional route into media and the unique Welsh political landscape. He highlights how the English media can misinterpret Welsh issues and why independent scrutiny is vital.

This episode was hosted by Caitlin van der Waag & Ella Lewis-Davidson.

Timestamps

0:33 => The Influence of Jeremy Bowen on Will’s Career

Will explains how a university talk by the BBC's Jeremy Bowen inspired his career, and why he chose politics over war reporting to safely make a meaningful difference.

1:47 => From Personal Trainer to Political Reporter

Reflecting on his non-traditional route into journalism, Will describes running a fitness business for five years before pursuing a career “questioning those in power”.

2:55 => The Reality of Public Understanding in Wales

A breakdown of why political awareness in Wales has historically been low, and how Brexit and the pandemic transformed former First Minister Mark Drakeford into a highly recognisable figure.

4:25 => Wales vs. Scotland and the Difference of Mentality Between Nations

6:12 => How London Media Views Welsh Politics

An analysis of why Westminster-based media outlets view Welsh political events through “the prism of an English audience”, and how next year's Senedd elections might shift that attention.

7:45 => The Senedd Elections: Is Wales a Testing Ground for Reform?

9:30 => Breaking the Border Barrier as a Non-Welsh Reporter

Addressing the personal challenge of covering Wales as an outsider, Will outlines the importance of cultural immersion and local relevance in storytelling.

11:03 => Independent Journalism V.S Public Service Journalism

Why automatic right-of-reply comments don't always help his stories, and why extraordinary political claims demand extraordinary levels of scrutiny.

12:26 => Deconstructing the Immigration Debate in Wales

A nuanced look at how social media algorithms exploit legitimate frustrations over housing, healthcare, and underfunding by misdirecting blame onto minority groups.

You can follow the Cardiff MA Journalism students on socials: Broadcast course @cjsnewscardiff News course @cardiffiannews & Magazine course @maglabcardiff.

The BBC’s Head of News AI Olle Zachrison explains how public service media uses AI to automate transcription, translation and formatting. On the other hand reserving human judgment for sourcing, verification and editorial decisions.

This episode was hosted by Sarah Van Hecke & Millie Hughes.

Timestamps

0:52 => Where AI is Delivering Real Value

Olle breaks down the current "productivity wins" at the BBC, from language translation for the World Service to transcribing and converting text formats.

1:49 => Lessons from the Nordics

How Olle’s background in the digitalized Swedish media landscape helps him navigate the massive scale of the BBC.

2:54 => Should AI always be disclosed?

4:42 => Journalism vs. Information Production

How the BBC focuses on using technology to free up journalists for creative and original reporting.

5:43 => Combating AI Distrust

Addressing the "misinformation" stigma: Why the BBC will never be an "AI company" and how the focus must remain on the content, not the tool.

7:46 => AI to Improve Accessibility

The trade-offs of using automated systems and the ongoing debate over quality vs. error rates.

8:31 => Which tasks should always remain human?

Assessing newsworthiness, talking to sources, and double-checking facts: The core journalistic tasks that can never be delegated to an algorithm.

9:39 => What about Jobs?

Olle reflects on his 20-year career to explain why AI is more likely to change roles, rather than simply reducing them.

11:08 => Most Important Traits for New Journalists

You can follow the Cardiff MA Journalism students on socials: Broadcast course @cjsnewscardiff News course @cardiffiannews & Magazine course @maglabcardiff.

Former BBC News Director Richard Sambrook reflects on his career, from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the political pressures of the Iraq War, whilst exploring the enduring need for impartiality and digital safety.

This episode was hosted by Lexie Gutteridge & Louisa Phillips.

Timestamps

0:34 => From Merthyr to the BBC

Richard reflects on his early career starting in local South Wales newspapers and how a desire for a challenging, ever-changing life led him to the BBC.

1:49 => The Process of Impartiality

Why objectivity is more than just a concept: checking facts, using two sources, and maintaining fairness in a more politized world.

4:00 => Reporting on the Berlin Wall

Lessons from the ground: How covering this key moment in history taught Richard to report from the "public's point of view" rather than just the official narrative.

5:28 => The Iraq War & Political Pressure

Inside the controversy: Navigating the BBC's role during a time when the UK was divided over the decision to go to war.

6:46 => The Andrew Gilligan & The Today Programme

Richard discusses the fallout of the Iraq dossier report, the editorial mistakes whilst defending the fundamental truth provided by the whistle-blower.

7:36 => Digital Hygiene for Journalists

Why must modern reporters be purposeful about their digital footprint and the vanishing nature of privacy.

9:22 => Physical Safety in Conflict

The evolution of safety protocols: Managing risks in war reporting in an increasingly dangerous global environment for the press.

10:08 => The "Lateral" Career Path

Why shorthand isn't enough anymore: Richard on building a wide range of digital, video, and audio skills to stay competitive.

11:26 => Relentless Curiosity

Richard explains why the most essential trait for any journalist remains the constant drive to ask "why?" and "what's next?"

You can follow the Cardiff MA Journalism students on socials: Broadcast course @cjsnewscardiff News course @cardiffiannews & Magazine course @maglabcardiff.

Condé Nast’s Sarah Marshall discusses how luxury media brands balance global identity with local storytelling. She highlights audience-first problem-solving and explains why she favours niche expert writers over generalists.

This episode was hosted by Dafydd Middleton & Jessica Lee Fotheringham.

Timestamps

0:39 => The "Less is More" Strategy

Sarah discusses Chloe Malle's new vision for Vogue USA: focusing on high-quality, deliberate content to build loyalty in a world of information overload.

2:02 => Global Brand, Local Voice

How Vogue balances its global prestige with local stories, highlighting the massive success of Vogue India and its focus on Bollywood.

3:32 => Defining Audience Needs

Understanding "The World" vs. "Fashion Week": How journalists should seek to solve problems for their readers.

4:28 => Journalism vs. AI

Why AI can't replace on-the-ground reporting or trust-based storytelling, and how to find opportunities in today’s landscape.

5:44 => Specialists vs. Generalists

Inside the world of Condé Nast: Why the company favours magazine specific “expert writers” for brands like GQ and The New Yorker rather than journalists who write for everything.

You can follow the Cardiff MA Journalism students on socials: Broadcast course @cjsnewscardiff News course @cardiffiannews & Magazine course @maglabcardiff.

Key media analyst Nic Newman breaks down major shifts in digital news consumption. He explores how brands can tackle news fatigue and capture younger audiences using personality-driven formats without losing their integrity.

This episode was hosted by Annabelle Joseph & Daniel Hutton.

Timestamps

1:23 => Seismic Shifts in News Consumption

Nic reflects on the major phases of digital change, from the beginning of the internet to the current AI-driven "creator economy."

2:54 => Combating News Fatigue

With 40% of people avoiding news due to oversaturation, Nic discusses the rise of "solutions journalism" and providing accessible formats.

4:32 => What Young Audiences Want

Why news brands need to update their formats without "dumbing down" or pretending to be something they aren't.

5:56 => The Rise of Personality-Led Journalism

A look at creators like Joe Rogan and Piers Morgan: Can impartiality coexist with the rise of social media personalities?

8:17 => Why Audiences Trust Creators

The importance of representation and language when connecting with today’s media consumers.

9:17 => Adapting Without Alienating the original audience

11:04 => AI: An Opportunity not a Threat?

Advice for news agencies on how to get paid for their data and why specialized reporting will become more valuable.

13:40 => The "First Wave" of Digital Stories

Nic reflects on covering the Bill Clinton impeachment and the excitement of inventing interactive news formats for the first time.

You can follow the Cardiff MA Journalism students on socials: Broadcast course @cjsnewscardiff News course @cardiffiannews & Magazine course @maglabcardiff.

The former Guardian editor-in-chief discusses modern newsroom ethics, editorial independence, and the evolution of reader funding. He also makes the case for why long-form journalism is outvaluing fast-paced digital content.

This episode was hosted by Katie Matthews & Hasan Islam.

Timestamps

0:45 => To Paywall or Not?

The internal debate at The Guardian regarding paywalls and the transition to a successful reader revenue model.

2:05 => The Sale of The Observer to Tortoise Media

3:24 => Media Law & The Public Interest

Advice for young journalists: How to protect yourself when reporting high-profile stories and why showing your workings is key.

5:23 => The Phone Hacking Scandal

Reflecting on the "lonely period" of the phone hacking investigation, when no one would come near the story initially and the feeling of a democracy “without checks and balances”.

7:05 => Alan’s Editorial Philosophy

Empowering reporters as an editor, as opposed to having “complete control” and imposing your worldview.

8:07 => The Milly Dowler Murder

The impact on newsrooms and how it changed the public's perception of press ethics.

9:50 => Why Slow Journalism Matters

Alan’s return to journalism, the "hamster wheel" of short-form content and the joy of long-form pieces at Prospect.

11:12 => The Rise of "Churnalism"

A warning about high-volume and low-interrogation reporting.

12:10 => Early Technology in Journalism

From the Tandy 100 to early Facebook: How an obsession with tech shaped Alan’s editorial career.

You can follow the Cardiff MA Journalism students on socials: Broadcast course @cjsnewscardiff News course @cardiffiannews & Magazine course @maglabcardiff.

The BBC Wales presenter shares her journey from Cardiff University to the screen. She offers practical advice on overcoming imposter syndrome, interviewing politicians, and making complex regional policy relatable.

This episode was hosted by Jack O’Connell & Isabelle Breaker.

Timestamps

0:37 => Broadcast Heroes & Influences

Teleri discusses looking up to Laura Kuenssberg and the contrasting styles of presenters like Bethan Rhys Roberts and Nick Servini.

2:01 => Advice for Students

Reflecting on her time at Cardiff University: The importance of resilience, "doing your homework," and working hard while building lifelong friendships.

3:06 => Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

How to switch off the voice of self-doubt and why a journalist needs to thrive under the pressure of a ticking clock.

4:52 => From Reporting to Presenting: Interview Tips

Building rapport with interviewees and avoiding "over-gathering" content in the field.

6:27 => Interrogating Politicians

Strategies for cutting through spin and why "not getting an answer" isn't always a bad thing.

7:55 => Choosing Wales over London

The personal and professional reasons for staying in Cardiff and a “rich, varied career” within BBC Wales.

9:35 => Breaking Down the Welsh Political Jargon

How to translate complex topics like proportional voting and devolution into everyday language.

11:01 => Relatability to The Audience

How Teleri avoids over-complicating and the importance of being relatable when explaining complex topics.

You can follow the Cardiff MA Journalism students on socials: Broadcast course @cjsnewscardiff News course @cardiffiannews & Magazine course @maglabcardiff.

Shirish Kulkarni - award winning journalist and news innovation research fellow at Media Cymru - talks to the MA Journalism students at Cardiff University.

ITV's Political Correspondent Shehab Khan talks to the MA Journalism students at Cardiff University.