UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 26 JULY
Celebrated broadcaster Margherita Taylor has told journalism graduates at Birmingham City University (BCU) to continue investing in their education in order to keep pace with the rapidly changing media landscape.
After receiving an Honorary Doctorate from her alma mater, the Classic FM and Smooth Radio presenter also paid tribute to BCU for the start it gave her in her career, especially the student camaraderie she experienced while there.
“It was lovely to be surrounded by students who were so passionate about the career paths that they were studying for,” said Margherita.
“Having those friendships from university as a support network when you start out in the working world was a real bonus.
“It’s been fantastic to celebrate the successes of so many fellow students over the years, and to have watched them achieve so much in their chosen careers.”
Margherita, who is also one of the presenters on Countryfile, told media students attending Friday’s graduation ceremony at Symphony Hall that completing a degree should not be the end of learning.
“The industry moves quickly,” she said. “Stay open to topping up your skill set, education and training throughout your career. It’s a powerful investment in your future.”
Margherita was awarded an Honorary Doctorate for her exceptional service to the City of Birmingham and for her outstanding contribution to public and professional life.
“It’s an amazing honour to be receiving this award from BCU,” she said. “It has been lovely to have stayed in touch over the years. It was great to catch up again with some familiar faces as well as meeting this year’s graduating class.”
Awarded an MBE in 2022 for services to broadcasting and diversity, Margherita has enjoyed a long list of exciting roles in her broadcasting career.
“I have felt very fortunate to have worked on lots of projects that I’ve loved on radio and television,” she said. “Working with many teams across different broadcast platforms has meant I’ve had the chance to learn from some of the best in the business. That’s been one of the highlights.
“I’ve also been lucky to have had fantastic mentors through my career. I’ll always be grateful to them for their time, wisdom and continued support.”
Margherita, who began her broadcasting career at the Birmingham-based radio station BRMB before moving to Capital and then becoming one of the original presenters of the Channel 4 teen-focused show T4, is now determined to give back.
“In the past few years, I’ve begun working with the senior leadership team at Global to support others as they get their careers underway,” she said. “When I started out, I was fortunate to be given lots of support and it’s been lovely to be able to pay it forward.”