In recognition of 50 years of journalism the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) asked distinguished alumni to return to the city to celebrate the landmark event today (23 April).

Many famous names from the world of news and the creative industries and media headed back to Preston to toast 50 years of journalism teaching at the city centre campus.

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Among the alumni returning to the UCLan were UCLan Honorary Fellow Richard Frediani, Editor of the 6.30pm ITV News, Tessa Chapman, Chief Correspondent at Channel 5 News, Neil Dunwoodie, Sky News Executive Producer,Sarah Collins, Sports Editor at BBC Radio Manchester, Jonathan Blake, Reporter and Presenter on BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat, Kris Jepson, Producer on Channel 4 News, Tom Stables, Co-owner of 3ManFactory, Tom Billington, Assistant Producer on BBC Radio 2 and Anthony Baxter, Reporter and Presenter on BBC 1 Newsbeat.

They joined current undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as academics, at the one day My Career: Your Career special event.

The event was also designed to spotlight the innovative teaching and research offered by the School of Journalism and Digital Communication in the city. Students study a wide range of programmes allied to journalism and the creative industries, including TV, documentary and media production and web and multimedia technology.

Alumni presented short lectures discussing how they forged their career in journalism and associated creative industries and one-to-one and group sessions took place in the Media Innovation Studio between the alumni and current students.

Deborah Robinson, Course Leader in BA(Hons) Journalism and who has organised the event with colleagues from the School, said: “We are delighted to have a range of successful alumni coming back to commemorate this fantastic occasion with us.

“It’s an honour to be celebrating 50 years of journalism at UCLan and also the fantastic teaching and research within the School as a whole. We’re proud of our proven track-record in providing our graduates with the necessary skills to enter the heavily competitive creative industries and our name is globally recognised as a centre for excellence in journalism and digital communication.”

Students pitched their story ideas or media projects to the experts with the chance of winning an exclusive work shadowing position at ITV, Sky TV and Channel 5. The day also provided current students with employability activities and workshops on freelancing, volunteering and improving their CV.