Media Futures: Breaking the News in <280 Characters

Join Planning Editor Jonny McGuigan, as he talks candidly about the opportunities, challenges and dilemmas that social media presents news organisations.

Please note this is an online event. Visit the MyCareer events calendar for more information, joining instructions and to reserve your place.

All events will be held on Blackboard Collaborate Ultra and places must be booked in advance.

How do journalists decide when to wake you up in the middle of the night? What classes as breaking news? How do you best cover a news story on social media? Every day journalists around the world publish thousands upon thousands of Facebook and Instagram posts, YouTube and TikTok videos and tweets. BBC News has some of the largest news social media accounts in the world, and has seen record growth over the last couple of years. Join Planning Editor Jonny McGuigan, as he talks candidly about the opportunities, challenges and dilemmas that social media presents news organisations.

Jonny McGuigan has overseen social media output, planning and commissioning, across many of the biggest news events in living memory for BBC News - from the coronavirus pandemic to the US election, and more. Starting his career at BBC Yorkshire, Jonny worked on TV news at BBC Look North, before specialising in social media. He studied Broadcast Journalism at Leeds, graduating in 2016. Having spent much of his time at university in the LSTV and LSR offices, he’s a keen advocate for the power of student media. He was named an Edinburgh TV Festival Ones to Watch in 2021.

Social media handle: @jonnymcguigan (Twitter).