AddThis SmartLayers

Lecturer who trained more than 1,000 journalists retires after 35 years

David English 1A lecturer who has overseen the training of more than 1,000 journalists in 35 years has announced his retirement, with a former regional daily editor set to replace him.

Cardiff University’s David English, pictured left, will step down from his role as newspaper director at the institution’s school of journalism, media and cultural studies this summer.

He will be succeeeded in the role by Michael Hill, who edited the South Wales Echo from 2008-2010 before joining the University of Wales.

David is thought to have trained more journalists than anyone else in the country and under his leadership the Cardiff school has regularly been ranked top for journalism in the Guardian’s university guide.

Prior to his teaching career, David worked on the Belfast Telegraph and The Journal, Newcastle, before taking up a role as public administration tutor at the Thomson Editorial Training Centre in Cardiff.

He is well known among pupils and alumni for his no-nonsense but humourous teaching style and notoriously direct feedback, always written in red ink.

Professor Richard Sambrook, director of the university’s centre for journalism, said: “More British newspaper journalists are thought to have been trained by David English than by any other person.

“It’s a remarkable track record and achievement. One of David’s highest forms of praise is to call someone ‘a real journalist’. David is a journalist’s journalist.

“The vigour and strength of British newspaper journalism is revered across the world and David’s played a key role in upholding and instilling this reputation through all of the students who’ve passed through the School’s doors.

“He’s been an influential presence for many young journalists through what is one of the most formative years of their career and, as such, is held in extremely high regard.”

Michael Hill 1Michael, pictured left, has been announced has David’s replacement, having left the editorship of the Echo in 2010 to take up a senior post at the University of Wales in Newport.

He said: “Cardiff graduates always leave with a solid grounding in the fundamental principles of print and online journalism and a strong grasp of media ethics and law, but I’m joining the school at a time when it is further developing its offering.

“The news journalism course, as it will now be known, will also give students the opportunity to hone their interests further and study specialist reporting modules in data, sport, politics, business, motoring and lifestyle and consumer journalism.

“It’s a hugely exciting new phase for the School – rightly positioned in league tables as the leading journalism training ground in the UK – and I’m looking forward to welcoming the new intake of students in September and beginning the process of turning them into the next generation of journalists.”

5 comments

You can follow all replies to this entry through the comments feed.
  • June 3, 2015 at 9:33 am
    Permalink

    ‘English’. Outstanding name for a journalist.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(1)
  • June 3, 2015 at 9:50 am
    Permalink

    Good luck David and thanks for your help (and some cracking trainees) over the years.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)
  • June 3, 2015 at 10:58 am
    Permalink

    Honoured to be one of the last.

    I will keep the reams of red-inked copy for years to come.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(6)
  • June 3, 2015 at 11:19 pm
    Permalink

    All the best David – and thanks for setting me off on my career in regional journalism back in ’81/ ’82, when I was one of the first of the 1,000 you have taught (alongside others who have gone on to become ‘big names’, such as Ben Brown at the Beeb.)

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(1)
  • June 4, 2015 at 9:16 am
    Permalink

    Here I am again chasing reflected glory. My early efforts were under the guidance of one of David’s predecessors at the Cardiff School. I refer to Russell Evans when he edited the Montgomeryshire Express. He was appointed after his paper was amalgamated with “The County Times”. He was obviously thrilled by his new job – “They’ve all got degrees Alun! and to me personally – “I can’t give you the job Alun – you haven’t got shorthand.” In fact I did – thanks to Mr. Tucker at Machynlleth High School in the ‘Fifties. In those days pupils well-endowed with “grey matter” went to Latin while their brethren were confined to bashing out “ASDF” and “;LKJ” at the keyboard. I celebrate my progress on a daily basis. I wonder if the “Latineers” do.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)