Back in December, we were delighted to announce Sofia Lewis as the recipient of our inaugural Cynefin Fellowship. As part of the Fellowship, Sofia is spending a term at the Reuters Institute in Oxford, exploring the future of journalism alongside six other Fellows from around the world. This is the second in a series of blog posts Sofia will be sharing with us about her experience. This project has received support from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales.
What do you think of when you hear the word ‘networking’?
Perhaps it conjures up images of grey suits and finger food, or LinkedIn influencers flogging tickets to their latest event. Or maybe it’s something you think you should be doing more of, but would rather not – like dragging yourself to a packed bar after a long day at work to make small talk with people you vaguely remember from a press briefing years ago (guilty!).
We often still think of networking in that traditional, superficial sense, swapping business cards based on interactions that can feel more transactional than meaningful.
But in truth, many of us (especially us journalists) are constantly networking, whether we call it that or not. In fact, good journalism relies upon good networking – to spark story ideas, find case studies, and build trust with sources. That’s despite the fact that many of today’s newsroom structures aren’t designed to help journalists do exactly that, with ever-squeezed time and resources, and an ever-growing list of responsibilities.
But how often do we get a chance to network with other journalists and industry experts beyond our own newsroom?
Aside from the odd pleasantries out on the road, or at a journalism conference (if we’re lucky enough to get to go), I’d bet that it’s a rare occurrence for many of us – particularly for those of us working in Wales, where the journalism ecosystem is relatively small and opportunities to connect can be limited.
And yet, making those connections can mean much more than another name for our contact book. It can broaden our horizons, strengthen collaboration, and transform the journalism that we produce.
"The highlight of my time here so far has been the privilege of learning from a cohort of journalists from across the globe, with years of experience between them working on some of the world’s biggest stories."
Cynefin Fellow
It’s not a new idea, but it’s one that’s been brought into sharp focus during my time at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.
I’ve now reached the midpoint of the Cynefin Fellowship here at the University of Oxford, a date that has come around far too quickly.
While my time here has already been transformative in so many ways – both personal and professional – it has been particularly crucial in helping me re-think what networking can be, and the value that it can bring to my work.
The highlight of my time here so far has been the privilege of learning from a cohort of journalists from across the globe, with years of experience between them working on some of the world’s biggest stories.
While the contexts we work in may differ dramatically – from covering war zones, to organised crime networks, to environmental destruction – many of the key issues facing journalists and our work remain strikingly similar.
I’ve discussed the challenges of combating election misinformation with colleagues working everywhere from Brazil to Japan.
I’ve drawn parallels between an Argentinian colleague’s experience reporting on the energy transition in Latin America to my own work covering the changing steel industry in my hometown of Port Talbot – and the livelihoods that were impacted.
And I’ve learned from debates on the ethical dilemmas of conflict reporting alongside colleagues from almost every continent, and the power our stories hold as journalists.
Back in Wales, journalism continues to grapple with the familiar issues of declining readership and digital disruption.
Indeed, with the Senedd election approaching in May, we also know very well that there continues to be widespread confusion among our audiences about how devolution works and who is responsible for key policy decisions in Wales, despite journalists’ attempts to distill this information.
What if some of the solutions to the challenges we face in Wales lie beyond our own borders?
And, far from the stereotype of stuffy events and schmoozing, what if building more opportunities for meaningful networking could help journalists navigate those shared challenges, spark more innovation, and improve our work together?
Of course, it takes a dash of curiosity, openness, and the willingness to get things wrong.
But adopting a little of that networking spirit could transform not just how we work as journalists in Wales, but how well we are truly serving our audiences.
Sofia Ellen Lewis is a journalist from Port Talbot currently working at ITV Wales. You can follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram.
The Fellows’ work will be published here over the coming months.
