Student journalists go head-to-head with Sir Keir Starmer

Published on 1, May, 2024

Student journalists from the University of Sunderland had the opportunity to interview Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Adam Foster and Joshua Nichol, who both study MA Sports Journalism, were part of a group that sat down with the Labour leader to ask him questions from climate change to football.

Adam and Joshua were given the opportunity to visit The Northern Echo newsroom in Darlington where they met Sir Keir, gaining valuable experience about the industry.

Joshua said: “Without the University, we wouldn't have been able to do what we did because it was through Carole Watson and Dr John Price, who have just been fantastic and supportive from the start.”

Adam said: “Every tutor that we've had has been extremely helpful in trying to get us the best opportunities that they can.

“Getting to be part of a group people who get to interview potentially the next prime minster, I doubt anything is going to top that.”

Students also had the opportunity to experience what it was like to work in a newsroom.

Joshua said: “We managed to get a nice afternoon of work experience out of it as well and it was brilliant.

“I started the day asking the man who could be the Prime Minister about his environmental pledges and his U-turns on policy and I ended the day asking a cheesemonger about what cheese he bought.”

“It was a great variety of what goes on in a news day.”

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Both Joshua and Adam had their work published in the Northern Echo.

Joshua said: “The interview techniques and having that practice constantly through the newsdays and through other avenues gave me the confidence to go in and challenge him on some things that he was saying, which I thought I wouldn't have been able to do at the start of the course.”

Adam added: “I can't speak highly enough of the staff at The Northern Echo for making us feel as welcome as we did.”

“It's something that will stick with me for probably for the rest of my life, to be honest.”

Carole Watson, Associate Head of School for Journalism and Communications, said: “It is vital our journalism students have real world experiences such as this before they graduate so they can gain confidence and build a portfolio of work to showcase to potential employers.

“Adam and Joshua did us proud by using the interviewing and writing skills they’ve learned on the MA Journalism course.

“Big thanks to Northern Echo Editor Gavin Foster for coming to us with this money-can’t-buy opportunity for our students.”

Find out what Adam and Joshua wrote about here:

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/24281766.keir-starmer-chats-journalism-students-darlington/

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/24282372.keir-starmer-darlington-gateshead-stadium-issue/

If you are interested in studying MA Journalism at the University of Sunderland, find out more here: https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/study/journalism-and-pr/postgraduate-journalism/