Journalism students have hit out over trained reporters losing out on jobs to celebrities and influencers.

University of Sheffield journalism students Emily Taylor and Marianne Hamilton recorded a video on TikTok sharing their frustrations after BBC Radio 1 announced Sophie Habboo, star of reality television show Made in Chelse, would join fellow former reality TV personality and husband Jamie Laing on the Going Home drivetime show.

In their video, the pair described the appointment as“deflating” and it should be an opportunity to bring in “new voices and young talent”.

According to student publication The Sheffield Tab, the video has so far received 285,000 views.

University of Sheffield students Emily Taylor and Marianne Hamilton on their TikTok video

Emily, 21, told the Tab: “You can still get the same amount of charisma and attraction to your show with a well trained journalist who may not have their own podcast, who may not have been on a reality TV show but can still get the same amount of listeners and have the same success – if not more so.”

She added: “Even with press junkets now, you see a lot of influencers doing the interviews now rather than trained reporters and I think it’s just frustrating to see when you’ve gone through three years of uni and you know how actually difficult it is and how much work goes into it, just to see these influencers getting the job because they have more followers.

“What stood out to me the most is how many people don’t think you need training. And I think that’s why it resonates with people because they’re like ‘oh it’s fine, just get the talent, the following, the branding on, rather than the actual trained people because they don’t see it as a role that needs training. But I think it definitely is.

“Some of the comments were saying that I was entitled and want the job – I don’t want the job, that’s not what I meant.

“We’re only just students, but we see insights into the industry and you see graduates that have gone before you.

“To think they’re out there trying to get those jobs and someone else is just taking them… I understand it, but it’s upsetting.”