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Founder of popular media careers advice site Mediargh dies aged 31

By Sam Forsdick

Billy Dowling-Reid, founder of media careers website Mediargh, has died aged 31.

A statement on the website on Friday read: “Mediargh is no longer being updated due to the long-term illness and death of its founder.

“Mediargh will be under new management and continue in some form at a later date.”

Dowling-Reid previously worked as an online content producer for the Scottish Government’s websites before moving to Channel 4.

In 2014 he quit his job at Channel 4 to focus on Mediargh, the website he had founded a year earlier to offer advice, resources and support to people interested in a career in media.

The website, which championed paid internships, was popular with students, graduates and employers and amassed over 88,000 followers on Twitter.

Dowling-Reid, who lived in Edinburgh, was diagnosed with Leukaemia three years ago, according to the Glasgow Evening Times

Tributes to him were shared on social media.

Shafi Musaddique, a journalist at CNBC, said: “So sorry to hear the news. Have religiously used this site since graduating in 2012 – it’s given me hope in a sea of endless troubles. Thank you.”

Andrea Tomé, a publishing student, said: “This is so sad. Thank you for always updating students on internships, entry-level jobs and work experience gigs.

“Mediargh has seriously helped me during my MA.”

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