June 9, 2016

BBC Academy training boss Mark Wray joins Press Association

The BBC Academy ‘s Mark Wray is moving to the Press Association to become the news agency’s head of training.

Wray will take up the new role on 25 July and replaces Tony Johnston who is taking a career break.

Wray is the current head of training at the BBC and has previously held the role of permanent head of the BBC College of Journalism during his ten-year career with the corporation.

He has worked as a senior news editor at BBC Radio 5 Live and had roles in regional television and local radio after beginning his career in 1980 as a trainee reporter on a local east London newspaper.

Wray said: “I am excited by the opportunity to enhance the reach and reputation of PA Training with new courses and delivery methods to bring in more learners from a range of media professions.”

Wray is chairman of the European Broadcasting Union’s Eurovision Academy, a member of the Qualifications Board of the NCTJ as well as the Education Committee of the Royal Television Society and a founder member of the Radio and Audio Skills Council.

He will be reporting to Andrew Dowsett, chief operating officer of PA Group.

Dowsett said: “Mark’s excellent credentials in journalism and journalist training speak for themselves, and I am delighted to welcome him to PA Training.

“He joins the business at an exciting time as we explore new modes of delivering high quality journalism training. Mark’s insight into learner behaviour and accreditation in the evolving e-learning space will be of particular value to PA Training.”

Dowsett also thanked Johnston for his service to PA over the last 10 years, saying: “He has been unwavering in his commitment to high quality journalism, both here in the PA’s news team and across the industry as a whole.”

Johnston said: “I would like to thank the excellent team at PA Training for their part in building the business to the position it’s in today.

“I am delighted that Mark is taking over the leadership of PA Training – the business is being passed on to a great pair of hands as it enters its new phase of growth.”