News Associates launches ‘How to be a Journalist’ podcast
News Associates has launched the ‘How to be a Journalist’ podcast with Plamedi Mbungu.
Early-career journalist Plamedi seeks the wisdom of more experienced journalists from all corners of the industry in this free podcast aimed at those trying to make it in the media.
Plamedi’s laid back interview style sees journalists talk candidly about their routes into the media, the highs and lows of life in our industry, and a whole bunch of advice for starting out.
The podcast aims to bring together a series of stories from a range of journalists to show the numerous ways aspiring journalists can land their dream job.
You can listen to and watch How to be a Journalist on Spotify and YouTube.
Plamedi’s first guest is Daily Mail political correspondent Kumail Jaffer.
Kumail starts his story talking about how the Journalism Diversity Fund and the Stephen Lawrence Scholarship scheme, sponsored by Baroness Lawrence, launched his successful career.
He discusses growing up as a Muslim in the early noughties.
“There was no one who looks like me [in journalism],” he said. “There’s no better way to change something than being on the inside and changing it from within.”
Kumail’s story is both relatable and unique – talking about everything from the ‘post-graduation slump’ to his stint as a Labour party councillor.
Watford-born Kumail’s episode discusses his career from local newspaper journalism at the Watford Observer and the St Albans and Harpenden Review to covering the 2024 general election for the Daily Mail.
We also learn about the Arsenal fan’s stretch as a sports journalist with Sportsbeat, and in the ‘fast and furious’ section Plamedi learns about the ‘person behind the byline’.
Kumail shares the best piece of advice he’s ever been given – ‘just keep writing’ – and discusses journalism work placements and building a portfolio.
Kumail studied on a fast-track NCTJ journalism course at News Associates in September 2018.
And he has the best X handle out there…@DailyKumail.
Plamedi is a recent Kingston University journalism graduate and former editor of The River Newspaper. Alongside his role at News Associates and The School of Journalism, Plamedi works as a freelance journalist for media publications 9bills and Mixtape Madness.
News Associates podcast host Plamedi said: “To see an idea I proposed become a tool that will help journalists in similar positions to me, is all I could have ever asked for.
“I look forward to learning alongside our listeners from our industry’s best and most-trusted voices.”
Follow News Associates to keep up to date with each episode release – TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Threads.
Plamedi’s next guest is Sky Sports News reporter Chris Reidy.
Chris discusses the importance of building relationships, how to source interviews, and telling stories that are close to his heart.
He breaks down the benefits of his early jobs as a research and scheduling intern at Comedy Central and a channel scheduling assistant at UKTV, leading to a podcast assistant producer role.
“There’s just so many jobs that you don’t realise happen,” he explained.
Chris talks about starting at Sky Sports News on a graduate scheme, and through all his jobs, including in the planning team and as a graphics sub editor, to his current role in a bespoke long-form documentary-style content team focussed on diversity and inclusion.
“Our remit is to tell untold stories, stories from people from underrepresented communities, but also still the best stories as well,” he said.
“Stories that are worth putting time into, in terms of resources, but also the content itself.”
Stories he talks about include ‘Black History Month: Against the Odds – an insight into Black managers in English football’ and ‘How Africa changed the Premier League’.
‘Football-obsessed’ Chris studied on an NCTJ-accredited sports journalism course at News Associates in 2016. He talks about his first taste of News Associates being a free journalism workshop.
Give the podcast a listen to hear the letter a seven-year-old Chris wrote to himself!
Chris’ episode will be released on December 30, 2024.
@newsassociates_ If you haven’t guessed it already, we are starting a podcast 🎙️ The ‘How to be a Journalist’ podcast will be launching tomorrow with an amazing guest to start off this series! #TeamNA #StartedHere #NewPodcast #Journalism #HowTo #HTBAJ ♬ Way down We Go – KALEO
You can listen to and watch How to be a Journalist on Spotify and YouTube.
Guests you’ll hear from in early 2025 include PoliticsHome reporter Zoe Crowther, The Athletic staff editor Richard Amofa and Feature Story News video journalist Sally Patterson.
News Associates editorial development director Lucy Dyer said: “Plamedi told us in his job interview earlier in 2024 that he wanted to start a podcast, and we are so happy to see it come to fruition.
“Plamedi is the perfect host for our first podcast, and we have no doubt it’s going to be so helpful to early-career journalists, just like him. He’s already lined up so many great guests and is really finding his interview style.”
Follow News Associates to keep up to date with each episode release – TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Threads.