After kick-starting more than 350 careers in journalism, Cardiff University tutor John Foscolo, pictured right, is retiring. He has taught the nine-month newspaper diploma course at the Centre for Journalism Studies for 11 years.
Foscolo, 59, is renowned for pushing his students hard to reach his exacting standards and he is proud that many of them have taken jobs on the nationals and top regional papers.
Yvette Essen, a Daily Telegraph stock market reporter who graduated from the course in 2000, said: “He’s going to be missed. He was a real character and used to get really fired up about stories, even though he has been teaching the course for years.”
Foscolo joined Cardiff University from the Western Mail, which he had joined in 1964 as a trainee sub-editor from the Penarth Times. He started his career on his hometown weekly, the Barry Herald.
During his 27 years with the Western Mail, Foscolo became splash sub and then deputy business editor. In 1988 he was seconded as executive editor to launch Wales on Sunday, and returned to the Western Mail as chief assistant editor.
Foscolo said: “My aim has been to give students the experience and confidence to tackle any job the moment they walk into a newsroom.”
Dr Richard Tait, director of the Centre for Journalism Studies, said Foscolo’s dedication would be a hard act to follow. “His successor will need to continue the Cardiff tradition of highquality professional training.”
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