Hughes appointed Independent’s Northern correspondent

By Lucy Witter

Mark Hughes, newly-appointed Northern correspondent of The Independent, returned to UCLan to give tips to students.

“I think the most important thing is enthusiasm. Always try to come up with your own ideas, and accept whatever work you are given, it could turn out to be a great story. Editors will reward you for it,” he told the aspiring journalists.

Student Journalist of the Year

Mark, 21, scooped three awards to become Press Gazette’s Student Journalist of the Year this summer, the week before he graduated from UCLan with a BA in Newspaper Journalism.

He attributes his success to hard work, enthusiasm and luck. He worked for the News & Star in Carlisle at weekends and during vacations, where he impressed editors with a supply of original ideas and an eagerness to accept every opportunity offered.

His dedication paid off when he landed a full-time job there after univeristy.

Some colleagues were sceptical when Mark tried to sell many of his stories to the nationals, but his instinct proved to be right and he went on to win several by-lines in the national press.

Mark, who will be based in Manchester, also stressed the importance of shorthand, and building contacts.

"Mark set an extremely high benchmark for his successors. He is a very dedicated journalist. The Independent has given him a great opportunity which I know he relishes. At the same time he has a huge amount to offer the paper," said Mark’s former tutor Delwyn Swingewood.

More info
BA (Hons) Journalism
PGDip Newspaper Journalism
The Independent

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