Ambassadors

Jonathan Is a passionate journalist with eight years of experience in broadcasting from community radio and 2 in the BBC where he worked across BBC News Socials, podcasts and Politics . He is a recent graduate of the BBC Journalism apprenticeship and host of his own Podcast. Jonathan hopes to encourage people from all walks of life to get involved in journalism no matter their academic achievements. His hopes are to see the industry become more accessible for all.

Catriona is a digital journalist at BBC Wales News based in Cardiff. She did her undergraduate degree in international relations at the University of St Andrews, followed by the MA News Journalism course at Cardiff University where she secured a gold standard NCTJ diploma, received the inaugural NCTJ Digital Journalism Award, and was shortlisted for NCTJ Student of the Year. She began her career as a trainee with Newsquest across its Hampshire titles, where she discovered a particular interest in court reporting. Since starting at the BBC in 2022, she has spent time as a patch reporter and feature writer as well as her core role producing stories for online and social platforms.

Karimah is a digital news producer at ITN, where she produces content for the Royal Family Channel, On Demand News and On Demand Entertainment. Her work has also been picked up by the Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Sun and Heat magazine. Previously she was an apprentice at 5 News, where she booked guests and worked as a producer. Before that, Karimah was a journalism and production trainee at the BBC.

Jasmine is a freelance journalist. Jasmine has experience working with the BBC, producing digital content, articles and radio packages that aim to reflect the real experiences of people across local and national news. Jasmine also specialises in social media content, and was shortlisted for the Level 5 Apprentice of the Year at the NCTJ Awards for Excellence.

Ayisha is a social media executive at What Car? magazine. As well as contributing articles to the magazine and its website, her role involves planning and creating the content for its six social channels, one of which she launched.

Mirek is an award-winning British-Czech reporter currently working as a Social Media Producer at Sky News. He previously spent three years in a local newsroom, where he was hired through the NCTJ’s Community News Project scheme. He has also worked as a production assistant in film and TV and as a film teacher. His investigative documentary tracing his ancestor’s journey as a Nazi slave premiered at the Czech Embassy in London in 2023.

Kia-Elise is a features writer at i, having joined the paper as an apprentice in 2021. She has reported on showbiz, travel and lifestyle to hard news, long-form ‘big read’ pieces and more for the title. She produces videos and photos and has experience working to enhance the paper’s SEO performance.

Eleri’s journey into journalism began at 17. While planning to study law, she discovered the BBC Level 5 Welsh Language Journalism Apprenticeship and knew instantly it was the right path. With no direct experience, she brought enthusiasm, creativity, and skills gained from the Welsh Youth Parliament to the role.

Three years later, Eleri is a journalist for BBC Wales News Online, having gained experience across TV, radio, digital video, and online journalism. She loves the fast-paced, varied world of journalism, where no two days are ever the same.

Tomás is a staff editor at New York Times-owned website The Athletic, where he helps lead their coverage on Spanish football. He has a strong background in sports journalism, having previously covered rugby, tennis, F1, boxing and the Olympics for ESPN and The Times. He has reported from Twickenham, Wembley and the Bernabéu and worked placements on the sports desks at MailOnline and The Guardian. Tomás speaks Spanish and French and undertook an internship at the French regional newspaper Le Journal du Palais.  He was named Student Sports Journalist of the Year at the NCTJ Awards for Excellence 2021.

Alex is a senior journalist at the BBC’s Shared Data Unit, which he helped launch in 2017. While he now specialises in data journalism and Freedom of Information law, he has previous experience as a BBC TV and radio producer, with his reporting leading some of the broadcaster’s flagship news programmes. He was also a senior reporter and education correspondent at the Midlands-based Express & Star. Alex is part of a BBC employee network that promotes social and economic diversity, he has also mentored other journalists and worked as an outreach volunteer on the BBC News Young Reporter initiative.

Sanjana is a journalist at BBC Wales News. She recently graduated from the BBC Advanced Apprenticeship scheme and has worked across Online, TV, and Radio outlets at BBC Wales as well as at BBC Politics Live and BBC Ukrainecast. Recently, Sanjana has reported on underrepresented issues such as the difficulties international students have faced securing accommodation and the issue of children in care having to move their belongings in bin bags. Sanjana is an aspiring political journalist and is passionate about reporting on social affairs. Outside of work, Sanjana loves reading, Bollywood dancing and sunny weather.

Sara Keenan is a lifestyle and features reporter for PA Media where she covers topics surrounding health, fitness and mental wellbeing. Through her day to day role she also interviews a range of important influences such as Davina McCall and Dr Alex George to share their stories and help inspire others. Outside of her full time role, she has a Podcast ‘Out of Sight’ where she speaks with underrepresented groups and people of colour about their experiences growing up in Ireland to help increase representation and diversity. She also is beginning to host her own panel events with the first one focusing on embracing curly hair. Sara received a bursary from the Journalism Diversity Fund.

Shannon grew up in West Wales and is now a news reporter for the Daily Mail. A recipient of the Journalism Diversity Fund, she is passionate about inspiring the next generation of working-class journalists to enter the industry.

Amar is a News Editor at Sky Sports News, working on newsgathering across all platforms. He works extensively on football, including the Transfer Window, cricket and F1. Previously, Amar was a deputy news editor and sports journalist at SSN. He has also worked as a mobile reporter at Sky News, local news and has experience working for a B2B magazine. Amar completed his NCTJ with PA in 2018, with support from the Journalism Diversity Fund. 

Zeenia Naqvee is a freelance journalist who began her career at MailOnline before moving to The Sun. She has covered foreign affairs, health, and human-interest stories, with a particular focus on human rights and underreported global issues.

George is a trainee reporter at Nottinghamshire Live, a role he’s had since March 2025. He previously spent three months at the company in summer 2024 as an Editorial Intern, before working at local news channel Notts TV for eight months on their pathway scheme. He covers general news, with his main areas of interest and expertise spanning local politics, arts and culture, charities and reporting on underrepresented communities. Prior to this role, he studied for his NCTJ diploma at Nottingham Trent University.

Sophie (NCTJ, BA Hons, PGCert, MA) is a awarding-winning senior reporter at PinkNews, doctoral student at City St Georges, University of London researching trans moral panics in the UK media, and founder of the LGBTQ+ Journalism Network. A freelancer for several years, Sophie was a Journalism Diversity Fund recipient and began her career in the newsroom with placements at Reach publication MyLondon and then-Archant’s Brent and Kilburn Times, Ham&High and Hackney Gazette before securing a role as a digital reporter at the Oxford Mail.

Kate has worked as a freelance journalist for several years specialising in music and arts, mental health and life as a single parent.

Recently, Kate covered the outer space training happening in the Lake District and Scotland. After graduating from News Associates as a JDF recipient, she was made an NCTJ ambassador.

Caroline is a Journalist with BBC South West based on the online team. As a BBC apprentice, Caroline worked with online, TV, radio and socials teams in the South West where she pitched and produced stories. Caroline completed her NCTJ diploma with PA Media Academy while on her BBC apprenticeship which she joined in 2023 after completing her A Levels. 

Yasmin is a community news reporter at Reach, working across Stoke-on-Trent Live and Staffordshire Live as part of the Community News Project. She was previously a freelance content creator at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust and a digital communications officer at the communications and PR consultancy Make It Happen. Prior to that, Yasmin was a social media and PR assistant at Staffordshire County Council. She started out by honing her skills volunteering as a broadcast journalist at Cross Rhythms Radio, where she would create video and audio packages for its social media channels.

Damian is a multi-award-winning journalist covering European real estate at Bloomberg News in London. Damian received a bursary from the Journalism Diversity Fund and studied for his NCTJ Diploma in Journalism as part of his master’s degree at the University of Sheffield. He mentors young people from underrepresented backgrounds for the charity Shadow to Shine.

Catrin is editor-in-chief at Insurance Insider. She’s risen through the ranks at the publication, starting as a senior reporter before becoming news editor and managing editor. Prior to joining Insurance Insider, Catrin was a reporter at SNL Financial and has won several industry awards for her reporting, including B2B General Insurance Journalist of the Year at the 2024 Headline money awards. Before working in B2B publishing, Catrin – who also speaks German – was a news reporter at the Worthing Herald. She has recently returned to work after a year’s maternity leave.

Emaan is a journalist at the BBC World Service. As a BBC apprentice, Emaan worked on BBC News and the BBC Politics Unit in Millbank, where she helped cover Prime Minister’s Questions and featured in her own original stories on BBC Two’s Politics Live. She has also worked on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Emaan won the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award at the NCTJ Awards for Excellence 2023.

Lisa Valentine is a reporter at the Bury Times in Greater Manchester. As part of her role at Newsquest, she also works on other titles including The Bolton News, Lancashire Telegraph, The Oldham Times and more. She is a career changer, having undertaken the NCTJ L5 qualification at News Associates in Manchester in her early 40s following a career in PR and communications. She is now studying toward the NQJ / L7 senior journalism qualification alongsider her full-time role. Lisa was highly commended at the NCTJ Awards for Excellence 2025 in the student data category for an article she wrote around the rise in rental costs in Greater Manchester. She is a former JDF recipient and is keen to highlight the importance of authentic diversity in newsrooms while championing other journalists from minority backgrounds.