Harlow College hosted a second visit from Ed Miliband on Wednesday 12 November. After being welcomed to the College by Principal Karen Spencer, trainee journalists from the College were given the chance to meet the leader of the Labour Party for an informal interview session. He faced some tough questions on topics that included tuition fees, unemployment amongst young people, engaging with voters and how he deals with the pressure of leadership.

Tom Powter, 21, is currently studying for his NCTJ Fast-Track Diploma at Harlow’s prestigious journalism centre, celebrating its 50th anniversary and which counts Alan Rusbridger, Piers Morgan, Mike Wooldridge and Jeremy Clarkson amongst its alumni. Tom said: “Meeting and interviewing Mr Miliband was a fantastic opportunity for me as a trainee reporter.”

“I felt the college set up the day excellently and it gave us an amazing insight into the dizzying world of political journalism.”

Harlow College is celebrating its success at the AoC Gold Awards held at the House of Commons on Wednesday 11 June. Alan Rusbridger, Editor of The Guardian and a former Harlow College student, was awarded a prestigious Association of Colleges (AoC) Gold Award by Lord Willis of Knaresborough at the House of Commons. BA (Hons) Journalism student Tayla Mead received a Rising Star Award for her exceptional progress.

Staff and students from Harlow College were present at the awards ceremony which is held each year to celebrate the success of further education alumni as well as acknowledge the vital role that colleges play in the careers of the winners and of their continuing achievements.

Alan was nominated by the college where he studied an NCTJ in Newspaper Journalism in 1977 having already graduated from Cambridge University in 1976 with a degree in English Literature. He trained as a reporter at the Cambridge Evening News whilst completing his NCTJ as a block-release student from Harlow College.