Open Agenda Will Luker

This is not the first episode we have published on student journalism and freelancing. Our big aim for the Open Agenda podcast is to invite journalists to talk journalism but also to give them a platform to share some advice for current students or graduates hoping to make it in the media industry.

Our guest for this episode is just the right person to talk about student publications, freelancing and tips on pitching. A warm welcome to Adam England, a freelance journalist who has quite a few bylines across multiple platforms. We talk pitching, freelancing, his interest in music journalism and a certain Twitter thread currently pinned!

Thank you Adam for being our guest!

You can follow Adam on Twitter @garageflowrr and do check out his website

You can follow Open Agenda, Will and Nat on Twitter too @OpenAgendaPod @CallmeWill97 and @natjsch_

Open Agenda can be found on all your major podcast providers. We recommend Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

NOTE: THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED BEFORE POLLING DAY

Welcome back to another episode of the Open Agenda Podcast. 

With the local elections now over, we have a result where the Conservatives lost heavily despite making a few gains. Labour took control of three London boroughs, won the newly created Cumberland Council but elsewhere they made losses too. It's with the Liberal Democrats and the Greens where they made significant gains including Ed Davey's party ejecting Conservative control of a newly reshaped Somerset County Council.

To discuss local issues we're joined by North Somerset Councillor Ash Cartman, who stood for the constituency at the 2019 General Election. Elections are due to take place in North Somerset next year but for now we spoke to Ash about protests against new proposals on Clevedon's seafront, local politics and everything Lib Dem. 

Our thanks to Ash for joining us on the podcast. You can follow Ash on Twitter @Ashley_Cartman

You can also connect with Will and Nat on Twitter @CallmeWill97 and @natjsch_

For episode ten, we are delighted to welcome Troy Harrison, journalism student at the University of Gloucestershire where we both studied journalism too! University, the course, newsdays and writing, we have much to talk to Troy about including his current role as assistant manager of Tone Radio, the university's student radio station.

Our thanks to Troy for being our guest! 

You can follow Will, Nat and Troy on Twitter: @CallmeWill97 @natjsch_ @Troy_harrison1

Do check out Open Apenda on Twitter: @OpenAgendaPod

Also check out Troy's own podcast called Safe Space

After winning North Shropshire as well as Chesham and Amersham from the Conversatives in by-elections last year, what did it mean for the Liberal Democrats? To discuss, we are joined by David Chadwick, who was Lib Dem candidate for North Dorset at the 2019 election. David has also canvassed for the party in North Shropshire, so what was said on the doorstep, why was the by-election significant and could there be a progressive pact at the next general election?

We also have time to talk Liberal Democrat policies, upcoming local elections and does David plan to stand for parliament again?

You can follow Will, Nat and David on Twitter: @CallmeWill97 @natjsch_ @LibDemDavid

Don't forget to check out Open Agenda on Twitter @OpenAgendaPod

For the Open Agenda podcast we care about giving a platform to people who have personal hobbies. We want our guests to talk about the things that matter to them. We'd like to introduce you to Steve Waldron from London, who has a hobby in nature photography. We talk to Steve about capturing nature in the garden especially with the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch coming up soon on the 28th and 30th January. 

We also discuss why everyone should have a passion to help beat plastic pollution in our rivers, seas and oceans. On the back of a recent Environmental Audit Committee report which states that "raw sewage, microplastics and slurry are coursing through all of England's rivers, putting health and nature at risk", we ask Steve about the problems, the solutions and also the problem of litter within his own community.

Plastic in our oceans is another issue we discuss plus the importance of green spaces for London amid rising air pollution levels.

Our thanks to Steve for his time as guest on the Open Agenda podcast.

You can follow Will, Nat and Steven on Twitter: @WLuker97 @natjsch_ @Stevewal63

Don't forget to check out Open Agenda on Twitter too: @OpenAgendaPod

Happy New Year to you! Welcome to our first episode of 2022. To get us going we're delighted to be joined by Beathriz Souza, who has studied journalism at the same university as us. We talk about her role as president for Universal News, the University of Gloucestershire's student news website, aspirations for the future plus the best bits from the BA Journalism course.

We also have plenty of time to discuss more 'work meetings' at Downing Street, Novak Djokovic and Molly Mae's recent comments on the Diary of a CEO podcast with Steven Bartlett.

You can find Will, Nat and Bea on social media @WLuker97 @natjsch_ @ItsBeathriz

Do check out Universal News too!