A journalism graduate is set to be involved in the launch of a new BBC TV service catering for people from his home country.

Somali-born Qalib Barud, left, has landed a job with the corporation just weeks after graduating with a masters degree in multimedia journalism from Manchester Metropolitan University.

He will be involved with the launch of the Somali TV service, which is set to go live in 2017 as part of an expansion of the BBC World Service.

Qalib, 29, received a scholarship at MMU after seeing an advert in Sasca News, a bilingual newspaper form Manchester’s Somali community set up with the help of Dave Porter, who previously edited the Heywood Advertiser and Tameside Advertiser, and students from the institution.

Said Qalib: “I wanted to make a positive contribution to the reconstruction of my home country and I thought the best way to achieve this was through fair, impartial and objective journalism.”

Dave, who is now a journalism lecturer at MMU, said: “Qalib is a brilliant ambassador for the Somali community and it’s heartening to think Sasca News played some part in his success.”

Other recent journalism job moves include:

* Mark Thompson has left the Sunderland Echo after nine years with the paper, most recently as head of digital for Johnston Press North East. He is joining the Yorkshire Post in a similar role.

* James Booker is stepping down from his role as content editor of the Croydon Advertiser after two and a half years.  James is joining the Wimbledon-based sports news agency Sportsbeat.

* Jon Mattos has left his role as sports editor of the Nottingham Post. His replacement is James Pallatt.

* The Lancashire Telegraph has appointed Rich Sharpe as Blackburn Rovers reporter.

* Plymouth daily The Herald has appointed Charlotte Turner as health reporter and Richard Amofa as What’s On Reporter.

* Birmingham Mail health correspondent Anuji Varma has left to join the comms team at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. Anuji also contributed to the Sunday Mercury and Birmingham Post.

* Helen McArdle has moved from the role of transport correspondent at The Herald to become health correspondent. She replaces Helen Puttick, who has joined The Times as its Scottish health reporter.

* Simon Lockyer has left the North Devon Journal where he was social media editor. A replacement is yet to be appointed.

* Isaac Crowson has moved from a general news reporting role at the Derby Telegraph to the crime reporter beat.

On the move yourself?  Let us know your good news at [email protected].