Broadcast news: TV presenter becomes Doctor of Letters

Graduation week is always big news at De Montfort University, but today’s final ceremony of the day was also live on regional television.



The reason? Award-winning TV presenter Anne Davies of BBC East Midlands Today was made an Honorary Doctor of Letters – and in true professional style, she broadcast live from the ceremony for this evening’s edition of the programme.

Anne said: “I got the letter about the honorary degree in December and I was so shocked and it’s so lovely – I had a little tear actually. It’s possibly one of the nicest things which has ever happened to me, genuinely.”



Sharing the ceremony with dozens of Journalism students, Anne had good advice from a long and successful career to share. Joining her on air were students from Leicester Media School in DMU’s Faculty of Technology including Journalism and Media Production.

She said: “It is about not giving up. At one time I went to I think nearly every radio station in the country for an interview and nobody gave me a job.

“So you have to want it more than the next person. When there’s a certain shared level of skill and quality what makes you stand out is how much you want it.”

Anne, who lives in Leicestershire, has twice received a Royal Television Society Award for her work. Away from TV, she is a huge fashion fan and founded the Fashanne Awards to celebrate the talent from fashion students at DMU and other institutions from the East Midlands.

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Happy graduates celebrated the end of three years' hard work with friends outside The Venue@DMU.  Lucy Mackinnon, Journalism and Media graduate, said: “DMU has been immense. I genuinely didn’t think I would get to this stage, I’m just absolutely thrilled.”



“The best bit about university has been making friends for life,” said Lyric Gough, who graduated in Media Production. “I have had some good experiences like going to New York with #DMUglobal.”

Zahrah Patel and Rebecca Nisbett were graduating in Mechanical Engineering. Rebecca has landed a graduate role already and will be starting work in Shropshire.  

Zahrah said: “Not many girls go into Mechanical Engineering, more definitely should. It has been very interesting. We’ve had a great time.”