Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

University of Leeds best academic path to a media career, according to Linkedin study

Leeds topped a survey by the social media site LinkedIn to determine the best institutions for “media professionals”. Oxford came second, Cambridge seventh

Ian Burrell
Sunday 05 October 2014 17:45 EDT
Comments
(Alan Curtis / Alamy)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Despite frequent talk of an Oxbridge mafia, it turns out that the University of Leeds, alma mater of the Daily Mail editor-in-chief Paul Dacre, is the best academic path to a media career.

Leeds topped a survey by the social media site LinkedIn to determine the best institutions for “media professionals”. Oxford came second, Cambridge seventh.

The universities most frequently associated with specialist teaching in journalism did not dominate either. Cardiff, which boasts of being the UK’s “oldest and most experienced school of journalism”, came joint third with Nottingham, while media specialists Bournemouth and Westminster were 9th and 14th.

Among its journalistic alumni, Leeds claims such high-fliers as the BBC business editor, Kamal Ahmed, and his royal colleague Nicholas Witchell. Sports presenters Georgie Thompson and Jacqui Oatley also went there.

The university makes no mention, however, of the former BBC deputy director-general Mark Byford, a Leeds contemporary of Dacre’s.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in