James Blake
James Blake

Dr James Blake

Associate Professor

 0131 455 6260

  J.Blake@napier.ac.uk

   

Biography

James Blake is the Head of Media and Humanities at Edinburgh Napier University.

James started his professional career in television as an ITN trainee in London in 1998. After this he worked on the ITV News at Ten before he was appointed as a specialist Home Affairs Producer for Channel 4 News where he also produced a Dispatches documentary for Channel 4. He became a Channel 4 News reporter in 2007 and covered stories ranging from terrorism, human rights, asylum, mental health issues, youth justice and the courts. He has also worked as a reporter and programme producer for STV News and the STV Scotland Tonight current affairs programme.

School

Research Groups

Themes

Research Areas

Esteem

Advisory panels and expert committees or witness

  • Collaborating with David Hume Institute on Media Elitism in Scotland and “Politicians and professionals 2016” event.
  • RSE working group on BBC Charter Renewal
  • Invited external expert, Validation panel, INTI Malaysia (Subang and Penang) BA Mass Communications
  • Invited to give evidence to Edinburgh City Council committee on media provision in the City.
  • Council member, Broadcast Journalism Training Council

 

Conference Organising Activity

  • MeCCSA presentation
  • Chaired panel debate on Brexit and HE
  • Participation in German symposium

 

Editorial Activity

  • Peer reviewer, Participations journal

 

External Examining/Validations

  • BA Mass Communications, University of Hertfordshire, Penang University Malaysia
  • BA Mass Communications, University of Hertfordshire, Subang University, Malaysia

 

Fellowships and Awards

  • Winner, Two BAFTA Mental Health media awards for 2 Channel 4 News films on vulnerable young offenders & children in care.
  • Winner, International Bar Legal reporting award (“Judges in the Dock” Channel 4 Dispatches)

 

Invited Speaker

  • EU Network of Young Academies
  • Talk at Edinburgh International Science Festival on Future of TV
  • Research presentation and workshop
  • Invited to present to BBC Audience Council of Scotland on the BBC Charter Renewal process.
  • Presented “Stereotypes and identity: the UK reporting of Africa” part of the Africa/UK Journalism Education Initiative conference at the University of Bedfordshire.
  • “HE involvement in the creative process”. Accepted to present research findings at the AHRC Creative Economy conference at Birmingham City University.
  • “Media Coverage of Mental Health in UK” invited by British Paediatric Mental Health Group (BPMHG) to present at their annual conference in Highgate House, Northampton.

 

Media Activity

  • Featured on ITV News on the Glasgow Clutha helicopter tragedy
  • Invited on BBC Radio Scotland GMS during Edinburgh book festival to talk about media and covering Afghanistan and terrorism.
  • Leading workshop/ training session at BBC Scotland “Fast Train” event with the BBC Academy
  • Published a number of articles for The Conversation during 2015.
  • Scotland/China event organiser and presented to a visit of the Chinese Central Media Group to Edinburgh during the State visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the UK during October 2015.
  • Chair, “The Rangers Story”. Public debate between Alex Thomson (Chief Correspondent, Channel 4 News and Mark Daley, Investigations reporter for BBC Scotland). 11/11/12

 

Membership of Professional Body

  • Treasurer, RSE Young Academy Scotland
  • Trustee, RSE SCIO

 

Public Engagement Activity

  • Helped organise and will present at special RSE outreach media event at Kilwinning Academy, Irvine (February 2016)

 

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