Journalism – WEST | Alumni Blog

Graduate Releases New Psychological Thriller

8May

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Alumni Stories, Featured

Graduate Releases New Psychological Thriller

An Edinburgh author, and University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate, explores the risks of psychedelic healing in new psychological thriller The Medicine. Scottish author Emma Dhesi, who graduated from the then University of Paisley (now UWS) with a BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies, returns with The Medicine, a psychological suspense novel that examines trauma, memory, and the growing interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Emma is the author of five novels, including The Day She Came Home and Follow Me, and is known for writing emotionally charged stories centred on women navigating complex personal crises. Her work blends domestic suspense with psychological depth, often exploring the tension between perception and truth. The third instalment in A Scottish Sus...

Graduate’s Unique Podcast Series Releases Its Final Season

9Jan

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Alumni Stories

Graduate’s Unique Podcast Series Releases Its Final Season

A sports podcast series by a University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate will be releasing its final episodes this month, focusing on the Women’s game. Dr James Mahon, alumnus and former lecturer of journalism at UWS, has launched the fourth season of his acclaimed sports podcast Dr James's One Cap Wonders. This bespoke final series, features only female footballers, including ex England Assistant Manager Julie Hemsley and PSG star Ella Masar as well as the current captain of Sevilla and former Barcelona player Esther Sullastres. https://youtu.be/oO6_d_qDJ1Q?si=daZnHoOiFoSa6UF4 The podcast explores the careers of footballers who had extraordinary club careers across the world but were only capped once for their countries. With new episodes every Wednesday in January exp...

Christmas Advert by UWS Graduate Goes Viral

18Dec

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Alumni Stories

Christmas Advert by UWS Graduate Goes Viral

A Christmas promotional video produced by a University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate for a small independent gift shop in Dunoon has gone viral. The advert for shop Doon The Watter, that stocks work by local Crafters & Artists, was created and edited by Videographer Graeme McGill and has been viewed over 40,000 times by people from as far as Canada and Australia. Graeme who graduated with an MA in Creative Media Practice in 2024 said: “I’m over the moon with how well the advert has been received by the local community and that it’s brought a smile to so many faces.” The client wanted a video that showcased Dunoon and its Christmas spirit, whilst also ensuring the shop dog ‘Finn’ was the star of the show. Why can’t small businesses make Christmas commercials to a small...

2Dec

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News

UWS Giving Day 2025

On the 27th and 28th November 2025, we held our annual UWS Giving Day, and we are delighted to share the results. Over the two days, 47 generous donors came together to raise £3,073 and thanks to the kindness of a match funding donor, every gift made during giving day was doubled which brings our grand total to £6,146! This incredible support will go towards two vital funds that make a real difference in the lives of UWS students. The Hardship Fund provides emergency financial assistance to students facing unexpected challenges such as housing insecurity, delays in funding or lack of essentials. It ensures that students can stay in education and focus on their future, even during times of crisis. The Development Fund empowers students to lead innovative projects, access indu...

Head of Oxfam Scotland’s Social Justice Work Celebrated at Dumfries Graduation

23Oct

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Honorary Graduates, News

Head of Oxfam Scotland’s Social Justice Work Celebrated at Dumfries Graduation

The Head of Oxfam Scotland has been recognised at the first of the University of the West of Scotland’s (UWS) winter graduations. Jamie Livingstone has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate at the University’s Dumfries graduation ceremony, which took place at the Crichton Memorial Church on Wednesday 22 October 2025. Jamie has been at the helm of Oxfam Scotland since 2013 and was celebrated for his work to reduce inequalities and to address the climate crisis, not just in Scotland, but across the globe. Born and brought up in Dunfermline, Jamie studied international relations and economics at the University of St Andrews. Before being appointed Head of Oxfam Scotland, he was the charity’s Campaigns and Communications Manager, following an almost decade-long career in journalism, incl...

12Sep

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Alumni Stories

From Radio Dreams to Podcast Reality

Jeicy Kivuyo is an MBA graduate from UWS who, alongside her career in tech, is the founder and host of Stories Next Door - a storytelling platform that shines a light on everyday people with extraordinary stories. Through engaging interviews, cinematic visuals and grassroots storytelling, the podcast explores themes of identity, resilience, culture, and community. We caught up with Jeicy to find out more. The Stories Next Door podcast is one year old this month. Can you tell us how the podcast came about? There’s an African proverb that says, ‘Little by little, the bird builds its nest.’ It means big goals are achieved through small, consistent efforts over time. That proverb sums up my journey with storytelling. I’ve always loved radio. I worked ...

9Sep

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News

Become a Mentor at UWS

Can you motivate people? Do you like helping people to develop? We are looking for inspiring professionals to mentor our students! The UWS mentoring programme is about to kick off for 2025-2026 and we are looking for alumni to get involved in the programme. Alumna and mentor Sarah said: “If I was to give one piece of advice for people thinking about doing mentoring… It would definitely be just to go for it. I got a lot out of it, passing on advice to my mentee and keeping my connections with UWS alive.” As a mentor, you will share your experience of work to help motivate and inspire your mentee and practice many skills including coaching and leadership. “Why did I become a mentor at UWS? First of all it was to give something back. I really enjoyed my time at UWS, it was an extr...

Sporting Alumni Stories Captured in New Podcast Series

27Jun

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Alumni Stories, News

Sporting Alumni Stories Captured in New Podcast Series

A podcast series featuring sporting alumni, produced by University of the West of Scotland (UWS) journalism/ journalism (sports) students, has been released. The Top of the Scots podcast series delves into the world of sport with episodes from some of the university’s most talented former students, highlighting their incredible sporting successes across an array of sports. The series came about as part of a module in the BA journalism/journalism (sports) degree programme at UWS, and features student interviews with an Olympian, Paralympians, Commonwealth athletes, Coaches and a Scottish Cup winner. “I wanted to combine the knowledge of former students and their incredible graduate journeys with those in my current class about to set out on their own, to help them think there is a ...

Alumni Author Winner of Prestigious Award for Fiction

31Mar

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Alumni Stories, News

Alumni Author Winner of Prestigious Award for Fiction

A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate and author has been named co-recipient of the prestigious Weatherford Award for her novel No Perfect Mothers. Karen Spears Zacharias, who graduated in 2022 from UWS, was presented the 2024 Weatherford Award for Fiction for her novel, No Perfect Mothers, at the Appalachian Studies Association Conference at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville. She shares the award with Taylor Brown author of Rednecks. Karen is an American writer, a former journalist, and author of numerous books. She completed an MA in Creative Media Practice at University of the West Scotland’s Ayr Campus, and the novel was inspired, in part, from her time studying in Scotland. “I am so very grateful to win this award from the Appalachian Studies Center,” said...

Where Did You GlasGOw? Be part of Glasgow’s 850th celebrations

26Mar

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News

Where Did You GlasGOw? Be part of Glasgow’s 850th celebrations

This year, Glasgow City Council is celebrating its 850th birthday, and you can join the party! The Where did you GlasGOw? campaign is creating a special living remembrance book to commemorate Glaswegians who have taken the city’s spirit around the world. The book will feature names, memories, and images that tell the story of those who may have left Glasgow but still consider it ‘hame.’ If you would like to appear in the book and be part of history, submit your story or nominate someone here. Alongside this campaign, a yearlong programme of events is taking place, including Taste the Place, a scheme providing the chance for locals and visitors to learn more about the history of Glasgow’s hospitality scene by eating their way around the city, Clyde Chorus, a three-day music extrava...