How to be a Journalist

Women's Super League chief revenue officer Zarah Al-Kudcy: building player profiles and importance of storytelling

Today's guest is Women's Super League chief revenue officer Zarah Al-Kudcy. Hear insights about Zarah's current role at WSL and how she drives revenue to the league as women's sport and especially women's football continues to boom. Including insights about building player profiles, her time working at Formula 1 and how she made the pivot from working as a sports reporter into the world of business. Zarah was also a trainee on the second ever News Associates journalism training course. This episode is a part of a 20th anniversary of News Associates special. If you're curious about the transferrable skills a career in journalism can give, then this is the episode for you! Listen out for Ella Toone, Daniel Ricciardo and Caitlin Clark references across the episode. Follow News Associates to keep up to date with each episode release. Edited by Plamedi Mbungu and Oscar Stevens. Music by Alfie Smith.

The Observer sports reporter George Simms

Today's guest is The Observer sports reporter George Simms. Hear insights about George’s current role, experience covering major sporting events like the Tour De France and Australian Open. George trained on our 2022 sports journalism course and has gone from stride to stride since completing his NCTJ. George has carved out speciality of covering stories regarding neurodivergence in sport, interviewing the likes of James Haskell with poise and most importantly he consistently does the stories of those he interviews with justice. If the prospect of becoming a sports journalist is of interest to you, then this episode is a must-listen.Follow News Associates to keep up to date with each episode release. Edited by Plamedi Mbungu.Music by Alfie Smith.

PodX chief revenue officer Matthew Sherry | 20th anniversary special

Welcome to the ‘How to be a Journalist’ podcast. In celebration of News Associates’ 20th Year anniversary, throughout 2026 we’re going to be interviewing people who have been there and done it. Whether it’s accomplished grads in our industry and even those who have taken the skills they’ve learnt on the course and taken other industries by storm. In 20 years, there have been many successes with NA grads finding themselves in a variety of positions from editors to MPs to athletes all using the skills they've learnt on an NA course to good use. Our special guest for our second #NA20 special is PodX chief revenue officer and #TeamNA grad Matthew Sherry. Hear insights about Matthew's pivot into the world of business founding both Platform Media and Gridiron Magazine, time working as a sports journalist for the Press Association. Matthew trained on News Associates fast-track course in 2009 when he was 18 years-old and cites the time as a period which gave him a vital grounding that then set him on the unique journey. From interviewing NFL hall of famers and launching The Good, The Bad & The Rugby with Mike Tindall, Alex Payne and James Haskell. Tune in for a fascinated listen. Listen to full 'How to be a Journalist' episodes on Spotify and Apple Podcasts 👉 https://creators.spotify.com/pod/prof... Follow News Associates to keep up to date with each episode release. Edited, produced and presented by Plamedi Mbungu.

Former BBC Newsnight producer and keynote speaker Sam McAlister

Today's guest is former BBC Newsnight producer and keynote speaker Sam McAlister. Hear insights on how Sam helped deliver one of the most explosive interviews of the century exposing disgraced Prince Andrew, time working at the BBC, and how her best-selling book 'Scoops' became a hit Netflix film. Sam speaks candidly about how she never allowed her working class background to stop her from making a name for herself in the media with style and determination. Follow News Associates to keep up to date with each episode release. Edited by Plamedi Mbungu. Produced by Ajay Smith, Asha Rajoriya, Grace Crowley and Jonny Singh.

James Toney and Richard Parsons | 20th anniversary special

In our first 20th anniversary special of 'How to be a Journalist' our guests for this week's episode of the pod are pivotal in the story of News Associates. So, to lend Plamedi a hand in understanding the story of News Associates James Toney and Richard Parsons tell the story of NA's beginnings, highlights and obstacles faced within 20 years. Hear insights about the changing media landscape and how NA went from upstarts to the best journalism training school in the country. In 20 years, there have been many successes with NA grads finding themselves in a variety of positions from editors to MPs to athletes all using the skills they've learnt on an NA course to good use. Follow News Associates to keep up to date with each episode release. Edited and presented by Plamedi Mbungu. Produced by Grace Crowley.