Allan Boughey
Allan is the Programme Leader for MA Journalism, and has worked as a newspaper and digital journalist for over 20 years, editing an array of magazines and even worked as a PR account manager.
Allan is also a qualified Magistrate, having served on the Teesside bench from 2007 to 2012.
He began his teaching career at Teesside University in the Business School and also worked in the School of Arts before coming to Edinburgh Napier.
Simon Pia
Simon Pia lectures on MA Journalism, bringing an extensive amount of experience and knowledge to the role.
During his professional career, Simon worked as a journalist for over three decades in newspapers and broadcasting (radio & television), covering current affairs, politics, arts and sport. Furthermore, he was the media advisor & comms director for the Labour Party at the Scottish Parliament (2008-2012) – where he an advisor to Wendy Alexander and Iain Gray. He also worked with the office of the former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling.
Since he began teaching at Edinburgh Napier in 2012, Simon has continued to write for The Sunday Times, The Scotsman, The Herald, The Conversation, The Courier and Daily Record. In addition, he regularly appears as a political and media commentator for BBC, STV, ITV, SKY, alongside other international media outlets, such as regularly to Al Jazeera.
James Blake
James Blake is the Head of Screen and Media at Edinburgh Napier University.
James started his professional career in television as an ITN trainee in London during 1998. After this, he worked on 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.
Aleksandar Kocic
Aleksandar has worked as a journalism lecturer since 2011, delivering a range of modules in both undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes. These include Radio News, TV News, Radio Bulletins, Social Media, Introduction to Broadcast Journalism (ML), Business Journalism and more.
He also supervises BA and MA students working on their Major Projects and Dissertations. Currently, Aleksandar is the Programme Leader for BA Journalism at Edinburgh Napier.
In previous employment, Aleksandar has been a journalist for more than 30 years. Although he has done reporting and writing for television, print and online, he is first and foremost a radio journalist. Aleksandar has worked in local, regional and national radio, including 15 years with BBC Radio, World Service and domestic channels.
Dr Eamonn O'Neill
Dr Eamonn O’Neill is an Associate Professor in Journalism for the School of Arts & Creative Industries and an international award-winning investigative journalist.
In his professional career, Eamonn went on to research, produce, direct & present investigative productions for STV, Channel 4, BBC, Discovery, National Geographic & The Crime & Investigation Network. His work has focused on crime, intelligence, terrorism & miscarriage of justice cases.
Eamonn’s journalism has been honoured in national & international awards including: The Paul Foot Award; The British Press Awards; the Scottish BT Media Awards; and The British Film & Television Academy. Eamonn was also the first British journalist to be awarded an American IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors) honour in the Special Award category for his lifetime’s investigative work on miscarriages of justice. Furthermore, he has also been awarded certificates in the annual Teaching Excellence Awards, following nominations by his students for 7 years in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019.