University of Limerick Alumni Spotlight: Aislinn Kelly

In the next instalment of our Alumni Spotlight series, we speak to University of Limerick graduate Aislinn Kelly, who studied the BA in Journalism and Digital Communications in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Having recently been awarded Newcomer of the Year at the News UK and Ireland Broadcasting Awards, Aislinn reflects on her experience at UL and how it set her on the path to a flourishing career in the media industry

Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Aislinn Kelly. I’m a journalist from Tipperary, now living in Limerick.

What course did you study, and what year did you graduate?

I studied Journalism and Digital Communications, minoring in English Literature. I started in 2019 and graduated in 2023.

Why did you choose to study at UL?

A major factor for me was UL’s reputation for having strong industry links, particularly as I wanted to gain work experience and build a portfolio while studying. The campus was also a major factor for me as the facilities at your disposal are world-class.

What were the highlights of your course?

I loved the fact that I didn’t have to sacrifice any of my interests when choosing my degree as the course was so wide-ranging. I had so many disciplines I wanted to study in college. This degree encompasses subjects such as law, sociology and politics, while also having industry-oriented modules that teach you practical skills such as audio editing. I also liked the fact Erasmus and cooperative placement were integrated into the degree. It was an all-rounder that really stood out for me.

As an AHSS student, you had the opportunity to learn from some of the top academic talent, in state-of-the-art facilities. What was your AHSS experience like?

There’s nothing quite like the exposure you have in UL to industry leaders. The journalism modules are taught by academics who have a wealth of experience in the industry, so they are excellent people to learn from. The department maintains strong links to leading media professionals, and the regular guest talks from investigative journalists, renowned broadcasters and media experts throughout the four years were really inspiring.

The journalism students are lucky to have facilities such as a state-of-the-art digital radio studio at their disposal. It has everything you need to produce an industry standard programme, including a control room and soundproof booth, as well as a ‘Studr1500’ console that is modelled on studios at RTÉ’s radio centre. There’s also a television news studio that is an exciting place to work as part of the fourth year TV module.

It’s worth noting that the journalism course fosters a lovely sense of community between students and alumni. This networking is a valuable aspect of the course as so many become trusted contacts in the industry, as well as great friends. 

What advice would you offer to students considering studying at UL?

Go for it! Enjoy the campus, your lectures, and the many amazing people you will meet. The opportunities that are on offer are incredibly exciting.

I think getting involved in a club or society is also a fantastic way to get the most out of the University. I wasn’t involved in sports in secondary school and would never have envisioned becoming part of a club, but as there is such a variety at UL, there truly is something for everyone.

Separately, what advice would you offer to students considering studying your course?

I think you should try to gain experience as much as you can. You can learn something from every single interview, regardless of the subject matter. Journalism can be tricky as there’s a lot of rejection and it’s highly competitive, so the more experience you have doing interviews, writing articles, and pitching to outlets, the better. It also helps you to discover what you enjoy covering and that helps you to home in on your niche.

Were you a member of any clubs or societies? If so, tell us a bit about your experience!

I was very fortunate to be involved with An Focal, UL’s student newspaper. I published some of my first articles there and worked on the editorial team for two years. While it was a lot of work, I gained valuable experience while making so many great friends. It’s been remarkable watching past editors and contributors go on to achieve amazing things in the industry.

I was involved in UL Outdoor Pursuits Club (OPC) as a hike leader and was part of the committee as Women’s Officer. OPC provided so many experiences, from learning to trad climb in Ballysimon to camping in County Antrim. The campus is home to the tallest climbing wall in Ireland, so it is an extraordinary place to learn the ropes. The many trips were memorable, from hiking in Glendalough and Letterfrack to a sport climbing trip to El Chorro in Spain. 

I loved hiking with the club, with my favourites being Carrauntoohil, Mangerton and Galtymore. There were so many opportunities to visit beautiful parts of Ireland and Europe, as well as making great friends.

Did you participate in Co-op? If so, tell us a little bit about it and how it prepared you for the working world:

I completed my co-op with Live 95 as a researcher on the flagship current affairs show Limerick Today. The six months gave me a taste for the fast-paced world of radio, alongside giving me my first experiences on air. I learned an immense amount from my co-op. I enjoyed it so much that I returned to the station as soon as I graduated!

What are some of your favourite memories from your time at UL?

I think my favourite aspect of my time at UL was how much of the world I was able to visit while studying. Through the Erasmus programme, I studied for a semester in Stockholm. During this time, I explored Lapland, Iceland, Denmark, Finland and Norway, while also being immersed in Swedish culture by taking modules in its language, politics and history. I made friends for life during this semester, and it was a really transformative experience for me.

Looking back, I think the average days spent on campus were the best. From messing with friends between lectures, passing time in Red Raisins, to working on different assignments such as the Newsday project – every day was special. I think the campus is particularly spectacular in autumn, it was such a privilege to walk around it every morning.

At UL, we’re known as the ‘Home of Firsts’ – are there any important ‘firsts’ that you experienced as a UL student that you would like to share?

I wrote and published some of my first articles during my first year as a journalism student. I’ll never forget the first time I saw my name in print. It was also the first time I worked on a radio package, which now forms a huge part of my full-time job. I also had my first experience climbing at UL, which soon became one of my favourite hobbies. I took the first of (many) whippers at the climbing wall, which is all part of the experience!

Are there any campus locations that hold special significance to you?

The newsroom, where most journalism classes take place, is more of a living thing than an inanimate space. It facilitated countless An Focal meetings, many editing sessions, interesting (sometimes heated) debates, and overall was an inspiring place to work. It’s invaluable to work in a room with a group of creatives working to get a project over the line. The energy there is something I’ll never forget. I also absolutely loved working in the radio studio in the basement of the Glucksman Library; working there made me determined to pave a career in broadcasting.

How did your course and your overall UL experience prepare you for entering the workplace upon graduating?

When I enrolled in the course, I thought I would be a print journalist as I loved writing before exposure to the broadcast modules opened my mind. From working on a video package to producing a half hour radio show, it became clear to me this was an area I wanted to pursue.

While working on various assignments I discovered that my favourite topic to report on was the environment. The Limerick Voice, a newspaper run by fourth year and masters journalism students, allowed me to develop a portfolio in this area as Business and Agriculture Editor. I realised I wanted to focus on this area of journalism as I loved interviewing everyone from food producers to climate activists. The Mid-West has some extraordinary projects being developed at the moment; reporting on them is really exciting.

As many of the journalism assignments are geared towards being published with a news outlet, my portfolio continued to build as I progressed with my studies. Graduating with experience in video, print and radio as well as academia meant I was equipped with the wide range of skills expected from a journalist in a modern newsroom.

Could you update us on where you are now in your career?

I’m now working as a researcher and journalist for Live 95. My role is researching on the current affairs programme Limerick Today. I also read news bulletins. An exciting element of my job is producing video content to accompany radio packages, as it’s interesting to see how a story can be translated between mediums.

Part of my job is to produce Ours to Protect, a weekly series focused on climate action, spearheaded by the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland. The project has been diverse so far, covering everything from offshore wind energy to protecting hedgehogs. I’m currently preparing to speak at the Radio Days European broadcast summit in Munich about how solution-based journalism can cover climate related topics.

What are your hopes and plans for the future?

I hope to continue working as a broadcast journalist, particularly in the area of the environment – I’ve discovered it’s the perfect marriage between journalism and my love of the outdoors. As long as I can keep working in this area, I’m very excited for the future.