Make it in Media - Schools Visit to The Independent
#MakeItInMedia with The Independent
A Bold First Step — Clapton Girls' Academy & The Independent
In April 2025, we kicked off our first-ever media immersion day — and what better place than the vibrant newsroom of The Independent?
15 brilliant young women from Clapton Girls’ Academy stepped into the heart of the media world, gaining a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how stories are told, ads are shaped, and videos are produced.
Throughout the day, they met and learned from some of the most inspiring minds in journalism and media, including:
Chloe Hubbard – UK Editor
Olivia Foster – Executive Producer
Philippa Jenkins – Publishing Director
Caroline Gammell – Assistant Editor
Victoria Harper – Assistant Editor - Premium
Ada Enechi – Head of Culture
Meena Miles – Director of Global Ads - Ops
Bel Trew – Chief International Correspondent
Holly Hathaway – Ecommerce Director
Kate Gill – Head of Video News
Cate Sevilla – Editor-in-Chief, HuffPost UK
Beth Gordon – Head of Brand Marketing and Comms
Sophie Hanbury – Director of Strategic Partnerships
Geordie Greig – Editor-in-Chief
Jackie Lundblad – Director of Insights
Steph Fabb – Chief Data Officer
Zoe Beaty – Special Correspondent
Emma Elford – Commercial Content Director
Their advice? There’s no one way into media — just bring your voice.
Here’s what the students had to say:
“So many roles in journalism — really inspiring and brilliant.”
“Loved seeing how departments are interconnected — teamwork really matters.”
“There’s no set path — you don’t have to go through uni.”
“It was interesting to hear how news stories are chosen.”
“You can keep changing what you’re doing — it’s not one straight road.”
“Speak your mind — don’t be afraid your views will be rejected.”
“Even something like a thank you letter can take you far — connections matter.”
A huge thank you to everyone at The Independent for making this such a powerful and welcoming experience. This was more than a school trip — it was a door opening.
Here’s to more voices, more stories, and many more steps into media.
