Former government minister and award-winning journalist Brian Wilson has been appointed Honorary Visiting Professor in the Caledonian Business School at Glasgow Caledonian University.

The 59-year-old founding editor of the West Highland Free Press and a labour MP of 18 years will be taking up his post in October and plans to teach a number of topics such as journalism, media writing, political communication and media ethics.

He will also deliver the first in a proposed series of annual lectures open to the public.

Brian said: “My working life has revolved around journalism and politics so I hope that I can contribute something to the students’ understanding of both. Journalism students should be encouraged to think about the role of the media in society and the responsibilities, as well as opportunities, that this entails.

“Glasgow Caledonian is a progressive university with a diverse student body. I am very much looking forward to being involved in the delivery of its media courses and the wider work of the Business School.”

The journalism degree at Glasgow Caledonian University is provisionally accredited by the National Council for the training of Journalists and is the only University in Scotland which includes broadcast journalism in the curriculum. The degree also covers economics, accounting, marketing, IT and statistics as part of the Business School.

Leader of the BA Journalism course, Ken Gardener, said Brian would be a fantastic asset for the university.

He said: “Quite apart from his obvious highest-level experience of directing political communication, his all-round media expertise in having launched the West Highland Free Press, and having taken the first postgraduate journalism degree in the UK, he will be invaluable to our students who will gain a lot from his classes.

“He has already given our honours journalism class a case study seminar on his experiences running the Free Press.”

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