Dr Colm Murphy has been at the forefront of the transformation of journalism education in the UK to prepare it for the digital age. A multi-award winning Senior Lecturer at Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, he has developed training to enhance the safety of journalists working under censorship, covering conflict and operating under threat in dangerous countries. These techniques have been used to enhance the safety and resilience of journalists in the Middle East and Africa by UNESCO and the World Journalism Education Council.
His work as a director of the UK's journalism accrediting body, the National Council for the Training of Journalists, in enhancing the quality of journalism education, was recognised when he was made an Advance HE Principal Fellow in 2021. This includes helping organise over 400 bursaries to promote diversity within newsrooms and developing lifelong education for journalists.
He has written for The Sunday Times, London, for over 25 years and has made over 11 investigative documentaries for RTE. He has set-up and run a bureau for international news agencies in Israel, Turkey, Russia, Poland and India. He holds a PhD in digital media policy and has advised governments and international organisations on digital strategy, law and safety. As Head of School he led the construction of the £6.5m Media Centre at Ulster University, independently described as one of the best in the UK.
