Meet the UCL Student Journalists

Six UCL students have been recruited as our talented UCL journalists – a year-long position that provides journalism training with the opportunity to oversee content written by our student writers, grow their professional networks and build their writing portfolios.  

They will cover a range of hot topics to keep you in the know about what is happening across campus and to take a deep dive into high interest and often nuanced themes. UCL staff can also commission work from them.

Meet the team

Antara Basu

I am a final-year undergraduate student, from India, in the Politics and International Relations programme. I am thrilled to be joining the UCL Student Journalism Scheme, where I hope to interact, collaborate with and learn alongside the rest of my cohort. My passion for writing and journalism has evolved since school and continues to flourish during my university journey. This is further enhanced through my experiences at UCL as the Editor-in-chief of Pi Magazine and the International Relations Society Journal (Circum Mundum). Being part of such a vibrant community is a wonderful experience. Through this scheme, I hope to find more of this as I explore the world of journalism and further develop my skills.   

Caroline Coyer 

As a second-year student in the Creative Documentary MFA at UCL, my six-year journey in multimedia journalism reflects my passion for activism and social justice. Since 2021, my work has centered around reporting on the complexities of America's criminal justice system, consistently collaborating with people and families impacted by its policies. While at UCL, I developed a profound interest in exploring the intersection of art, activism, and public health, documenting these critical intersections with a nuanced and insightful lens. Whether examining the emergence of VR in our classrooms, music as a form of physical therapy, the evolving dynamics between students and Artificial Intelligence, or profiling UCL's distinguished alum artists, my focus remains on amplifying the voices that too often go unheard. Using everything from the written word and photography to films, podcasts, and the buzz of social media, I strive to bring clarity and depth to each narrative I am entrusted to tell.  

Embracing the role of student journalist at UCL fuels my passion for discovery and storytelling, providing a vibrant platform to delve into these subjects and bring to light their impact on our student community. Please reach out to me if you are interested in collaborating to tell your story on campus! 

Neeharika Nene

I'm a postgraduate digital media student, cat mom and horror film fanatic. Born and raised in Mumbai, India, I became passionate about writing and journalism after interning at organisations like The Quint and working as an editorial assistant at Springtide, a youth-culture and lifestyle magazine. Professionally and academically, I lean towards writing about film, music, pop culture, gender, and identity. UCL's lively ecosystem, within an even more vibrant London has no shortage of stories to tell. So, I'm excited to take on the role of student journalist explore the city and university I've come to love in greater depth! 

Sarah Jilani

Hello! I’m Sarah and I’m a second-year English student from Manchester.  

I’m interested in the ways in which stories are constructed and presented. Journalists have the responsibility to tell the stories of others, and I hope to use my position to provide truthful accounts of matters important to university students. I am passionate about voicing lesser-known issues, as the first step to addressing the problems of students is making sure that they are given a voice.   

I am also someone who enjoys learning widely, and so I hope to broaden my knowledge both of journalism and of topics I may not have come across before. I am honoured and excited to develop my skills further during my training with the Student Journalism Scheme.  

Giovanna Cantarin

Hi! I'm Giovanna, and I am currently navigating my first year as an undergraduate in the Experimental Linguistics program. My passion lies in amplifying the voices that often go unheard, as well as sowing the seeds of curiosity. As a Student Journalist, I hope to hone my outreach skills and contribute my part to the vibrant UCL community, sparking a ripple of positive change, however small it may be. 

Defne Kutay 

I’m Defne, and I am a first-year undergraduate student studying Politics and International Relations. I was born and raised in Turkey. As a Student Journalist, I am excited to represent the voice of the international student community, helping everyone to effortlessly adapt to life in London. 

Given the nature of my degree, I am drawn to global affairs, politics, and social justice. However, I also have an interest in art, culture, and film. Within this scheme, I am particularly looking forward to delving into investigative journalism and exploring controversial issues that concern UCL students through a critical perspective. I am very excited to have this opportunity to contribute to the UCL community! 

The successful candidates secured their places on the journalist programme after a rigorous selection process, which saw over 100 applicants. Over the course of the year, the students will be trained in a range of skills essential for a career in the media or public relations.

What would you like to hear about?

Our student journalists would love to take a deep dive into topics that you would most like to hear about. If you have an idea or would like to put any suggestions forward, please email studentcommunications@ucl.ac.uk and we will pass on your message to our journalists.