Award-winning journalist delivers masterclass to York St John University students

The BBC’s Europe editor Katya Adler shared her insights and experience with York St John University students in a special journalism masterclass.  

The award-winning news reporter shared tales and tips from a career spanning 30 years, which has seen her report on some of the most turbulent times across the globe since the Second World War.  

Katya is the BBC's leading voice on Europe’s relations with the UK post-Brexit, the continental impact of the war in Ukraine and European attitudes towards Russia, China and the United States. She has covered stories of major social, political and economic significance as a presenter, correspondent and investigative reporter. 

One of the students to benefit from the special workshop was first year student Tamara Baker. 

Tamara said: “Katya’s workshop with us was so enlightening and I learned so much about the nature of the job. 

“It was great to hear about Katya’s experience, especially with hers not being the usual way into journalism. It was so beneficial to be able to gain advice from someone in a position that I aspire to be in in the future.”   
 
Fellow first year student Rosie Laverick described the workshop as “extremely beneficial”, saying: “Katya was very welcoming and showed a lot of interest in the questions we raised. She made it very clear that young people should go into journalism, but there are so many different opportunities and jobs available.” 

Jonathan Brown, Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Course Leader, said: “It was a privilege to meet Katya, and the students were enthralled and inspired by her masterclass.  

“Using her wealth of experience working in the Middle East and Europe she was able to provide practical advice on how to get started in the industry whilst emphasising the extraordinary responsibility of journalists to interpret a complex and dangerous world in a truthful and ethical way." 

The workshop was arranged for students taking York St John University’s Journalism BA Hons degree, prior to Katya’s public lecture on Monday 5 February entitled ‘Being on the Frontline: my career in journalism’.  
 
This was delivered as part of the Chancellor’s Lecture, with Katya introduced by the University’s Chancellor, and BBC News presenter, Reeta Chakrabarti.