Advancing a Career in Journalism With an EMBA
Effective leadership in journalism requires innovative thinking. Blathnaid Healy knows this all too well as Executive News Editor at BBC News, at their headquarters in Cardiff, Wales, UK.
Blathnaid leads interdisciplinary teams committed to advancing content delivery and initiating cultural transformation across BBC News’ digital and social media platforms. Under Blathnaid’s leadership, the Growth Team leverages data analytics to refine editorial strategies. The Social Team manages content distribution across social media and other digital platforms.
Motivated by a desire to excel at her job further, Blathnaid decided to enroll in the Flexible Executive MBA program at Trinity Business School, part of Trinity College Dublin. As a graduate of the program, she has gained deeper insights into topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), industry trends and changes, and strategies to become a more effective leader.
The Flexible EMBA Experience at Trinity
Like many professionals, Blathnaid thought pursuing advanced education would be stifled by the rigorous demands of her career. The Flexible Executive MBA at Trinity Business School presents a solution. The two-year, part-time program fits around professional commitments, enabling students to pursue an MBA degree without pausing their careers.
With 80% of its curriculum delivered online and the remaining 20% on campus, the program offered Blathnaid the flexibility she needed to continue working while studying. As she puts it, “The flexible delivery suits my work and life needs.” (00:19)
The program has two Immersion Weeks, which bring together the Flexible Executive MBA students for face-to-face interaction at Trinity’s campus in Dublin, Ireland, for a week packed with intensive on-site learning sessions. This ensures students can get to know their peers, enjoy the on-campus experience, and engage in networking opportunities.
Blathnaid holds a particular fondness for Trinity College’s iconic Long Room located in the Old Library. Renowned globally for its breathtaking beauty, this 65-meter space is home to 200,000 books. Built between 1712 and 1732, it is steeped in history.
Blathnaid reflects, “It is a really inspirational place. It gives you a sense that you are studying somewhere where there is just this incredible, rich history.” (10:45)
However, Trinity College Dublin is more than its historical legacy. Its high-performing MBA program is at the cutting edge of the latest technological advancements and industry trends.
Navigating Change in the News Industry
Blathnaid explains that “Journalism has, like many sectors, seen a lot of change over the last two decades. The scale of that change can be very challenging. The MBA has given me so many tools and frameworks for interpreting and responding to that change.” (04:38)
Among the most transformative developments is the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is reshaping journalism through advancements in news gathering, content creation, audience engagement, and data analysis. AI tools enable rapid data processing, fact-checking, and copy editing, and the list keeps growing.
Blathnaid found the foundational AI module of the Trinity EMBA very useful. This course offers hands-on experience with AI, emphasizing its ethical and strategic use in business to meet specific business objectives. She remarks, “We learned, practically hands-on, how models are trained, what are your responsibilities as an organization for safely using this technology, and responsibly using it in a way that can really benefit your audience and your customers. While doing so in a way that is aligned with what you need to accomplish.” (01:53)
The EMBA program’s focus on up-to-date industry trends. Learning about AI ensures that graduates are ahead of the curve and able to tackle ongoing changes and challenges in an informed and innovative way.
Applying EMBA Lessons for Leadership in Journalism
The Trinity Flexible Executive MBA has changed Blathnaid’s approach to her leadership role at the BBC.
She is now more decisive, confident, and business savvy. She says she is now “much more equipped to make trade-off decisions, to decide what to stop doing in favor of doing something else that could be much more productive.” (07:50)
Blathnaid notes how the focus on leadership in journalism during the program significantly aided her in making business decisions and leading with purpose and confidence. She was able to make changes as needed to improve organizational strategy and meet the strategic goals of the organization. One such decision was, for example, prioritizing BBC News’s social media activities, which helped them to meet their goals and improve their strategy.
The Trinity EMBA leadership modules enhanced Blathnaid’s confidence in her ability to lead. Now she is able to skillfully implement the knowledge and skills she gained from the EMBA in her everyday work.
A Legacy of Excellence: Trinity College Dublin
Trinity College Dublin is an institution with a rich history, a forward-thinking approach, and a stellar reputation.
As Blathnaid aptly notes, “Trinity has an excellent global reputation. No matter where you travel in the world, people know Trinity. It has a very long history of educating and producing really good results.” (01:14)
Blathnaid’s story is a vivid illustration of how an executive education from Trinity Business School can empower professionals to further excel in their careers, navigate complexities, embrace change, and lead with confidence.
To learn more about the Trinity Business School, explore the Trinity College Dublin profile page or read our previous articles about the school.