“Suspicion of journalists is widespread but not always justified” Brian Meechan, Director, Stay Gold Media and Journalist

I grew up in Glasgow and studied sociology at the University of Glasgow. I enjoyed it immensely but, recognising this wouldn’t make me the most marketable person in the world, I looked for a post grad option and was offered a place on a broadcast journalism course at Cardiff University. There are more routes into broadcasting now, including apprenticeships, but traditional courses are still a great way to break in and I currently teach journalism part time at Cardiff.

When I finished, I had the option of jobs with both the BBC and commercial radio. I chose the radio job in Edinburgh on the basis that I was more likely to get hands-on experience in a smaller set up. It proved to be a baptism of fire, but I learnt fast, progressing quickly to presenting and hosting programmes.

A few years down the line I joined BBC Wales where I became a political reporter and then business correspondent. Being Scottish and appearing on BBC Wales did present some challenges. There were letters and even a freedom of information request asking how many Scottish people were employed by BBC Wales! I chose not to take it personally – if you’re on TV you need to develop a thick skin.

I spent over 20 years with the BBC and was honoured to report on some major stories as business correspondent, including the 2008 financial crisis, the impact of Covid on the business community and the threat of closure of Tata Steel in Port Talbot. Filming took me all over the world – Spain, Qatar and the UAE – filming in the Middle East brought unique challenges.  We were frequently stopped by the police which was a bit scary at times.

I set up Stay Gold Media a few years ago and we offer a range of services including crisis comms, media and presentation skills training, and content. I also host events across the UK.  In a crisis, the worst time to plan is during the chaos. Be ready before it hits. You will have a pretty good idea of the kind of crisis your organisation might face, depending on your business sector, so make it part of your business planning. Understand who will be responsible for communications and make sure you know who your different audiences are and the best way to speak to them. Keep lines of communication open and be honest and transparent.

Suspicion of journalists is widespread but not always justified! Reporters have a vital public role and ask questions because it’s their job. They also need trusted industry contacts, so try to establish relationships with relevant journalists before you face any kind of crisis.

After working for a large corporation like the BBC, setting up on your own can feel quite solitary but I knew IoD membership would give me access to a wide business network of interesting people as well as events. I have discovered that the IoD is so much more than just networking. I regularly use IoD office spaces in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Glasgow and have been pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome from the whole national network – even though I am an IoD Wales member. The research facility is really useful, and I recently joined the IoD Welsh Policy Committee which has a clear goal of placing Welsh business needs at the centre of government policy.

I think creativity is essential in business but it’s also an important part of work-life balance for me. In this new portfolio style career, I recently followed in the footsteps of writers like Kazuo Ishiguro and Ian McEwan to complete the creative writing course at the University of East Anglia. To pass I was required to write an entire novel and I am currently looking for a literary agent interested in representing a 1970s inspired crime drama!