Award-winning presenter to speak at Student Council

Award-winning ITV News at Ten presenter Mark Austin is to be the keynote speaker at this year’s NCTJ Student Council forum.

Mark,who is currently presenting live coverage from Egypt, will deliver an address to students as long as he has returned to the UK in time. 

Mark completed an NCTJ course at Highbury College and began his journalism career as a reporter for the Bournemouth Echo. He then worked as both a news and sports reporter for the BBC, before being offered a position as sports correspondent for ITN.

 He was one of the first British journalists to report on the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and has covered other major worldwide events including the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the war in Afghanistan.

Originally promoted to anchor ITV’s Evening News programme, Mark later replaced Sir Trevor McDonald on News at Ten after the veteran newsreader announced his decision to step down at the end of 2008. 

The NCTJ Student Council is a unique opportunity for students to share their views and suggestions with senior NCTJ staff and take part in discussion and debate. It will take place at The Press Association in London on 11 February. 

Mark has previously been featured as an alumnus of the month on the NCTJ website and opened the NCTJ’s headquarters in 2006.