Social media has the potential to be “an incredible force for good” when utilised by journalists according to The Yorkshire Post’s Greg Wright.
Wright spoke to Leeds Trinity University students and Yorkshire Voice at Journalism and Media Week, as part of an alumni panel. He was keen to stress the benefits journalists can gain from considered use of much-maligned platforms like X, formerly known as Twitter.
“It’s fashionable to talk about social media as a negative thing – people often fixate on the bad things,” said Wright, the YP’s Deputy Business Editor.
“The key thing is you’ve got to be really thoughtful about how you engage with people. If people Google you, what do they find out? You’ve got to think about what judgements people will make.”
Wright highlighted social media’s ability to act as a load-bearing support network. Through his reporting, he directly experienced how victims of the loan charge scandal have been able to come together in a time of need, after thousands of workers were hit with unexpected backdated tax bills.
He said: “In my experience, it can be a really nurturing and encouraging environment. You can build communities of interest, or even campaign groups. Around the loan charge scandal, there’s a community of hundreds of people who look out for each other in a very difficult time.”
Alongside Wright, the panel was made up of filmmaker Elian Beaumont, Liverpool FC’s social media specialist Jake Millard, Alton Towers’ social media editor Danielle Nichols, and sports content creator Abbas Younas.
Elian Beaumont described how he has harnessed social media to put himself and his work in the shop window, opening up opportunities at British film festivals, saying “it just takes that one opportunity”.
For Beaumont, patience is crucial even if there is an initial taste of success, referring to his award-winning short film Strangers. He said: “2.2 million people have seen it, but not the one who will get it in the right position. Has a Hollywood director contacted me? No!”
Remembering their time at Leeds Trinity, and their post-graduate achievements and struggles, other members of the panel were on hand to give their advice to current students.
Abbas Younas emphasised the importance of creating a portfolio of your best work, recalling how he was left thinking “I’ve got my degree, but I’ve got nothing else”, after unsuccessful interviews and pitches.
Jake Millard echoed this, adding that the best route to your dream job is to cast your net wide and build valuable relationships: “It’s persistence, it’s increasing your exposure and expanding your networks”.
Danielle Nichols spoke highly of the placement opportunities she had during her undergraduate degree at the university, helping her to broaden her skillset and confidence. She said: “Trinity is incredible for placements, it’s a chance to get those big brands on your CV.”