From Pluto to Blog Preston: How journalism graduate Luke built a career in media

Luke Beardsworth began his journey at the University of Central Lancashire, now known as the University of Lancashire, studying BA (Hons) English Language. By the end of his first year, he was already involved with the student newspaper Pluto and the local music magazine, The Ark. This hands-on experience and enjoyment of writing inspired him to change his course to BA (Hons) Journalism and Creative Writing.

“Changing was a tough decision, but it felt the only way to refocus myself on what my goals had become over that year. The journalism course at the University of Central Lancashire having such a fantastic reputation only made the decision easier,” Luke said.

Luke thoroughly enjoyed his time as a student and as well as reminiscing about “a beer and a burger being £3.50 in the Adelphi”, his standout memory was working on the Students’ Union newspaper. He said: “We had to produce a newspaper every fortnight and it meant a lot of late nights in that building. I lived at home while I was studying, so that really helped me feel like a ‘proper’ student, aside from all the personal development benefits.”

Alongside his studies, Luke gained valuable experience at Blog Preston, which led to a full-time journalism job offer before he even graduated, on the agreement that he would finish his course. After completing his degree, he moved to Birmingham to work as an Online Content Writer for the Birmingham Mail in 2014, before later moving to Bristol and eventually returning to Lancashire to take on a senior role at LancsLive. In 2023, Luke launched an audience development consultancy company, Alma, together with long-time colleague and fellow University of Lancashire alumnus and founder of Blog Preston, Ed Walker.

Today, Luke works as Editor for both Blog Preston and The Lead , where he writes articles, manages a team of freelancers, and oversees content production. “It’s a genuine cliché but most days are different.” he said.

At Blog Preston, Luke and fellow University alumni Ed Walker and Kate Rosindale and, ensure their journalism gives back to the community. Their work not only celebrates the best of Preston but also supports causes such as Preston North End F.C.’s Sleep Out events, which have raised £150,000 for vulnerable people in the city.

Blog Preston’s close relationship with the University’s BA (Hons) Journalism course also allowed Luke to return to teach a module in 2024. “I also found it very rewarding to return to the University. That felt very ‘full circle’ and it’s a wonderful course.” he said.

Luke is proud of his achievements, including helping LancsLive become one of the top ten most-read regional news websites in the country between 2019 and 2022. In September 2025, The Lead won Best Newsletter (Specialist/Regional) at the Press Gazette Future of Media Awards, beating industry leaders like The Financial Times. “Those are titles that I lead and, as someone that’s never really gone for journalism awards, it was a proud moment for me and the journalists who work alongside me.” Luke said.

Offering advice to graduate aspiring journalists, Luke shared: “Make sure you’ve got plenty of work to showcase by the time you’re going for job interviews. Journalism is competitive and the difference between those who move into the industry and those who don’t is their portfolio of work while they study.”

He continued: “Often, students will covet the one-day slot at a prestigious place like Sky News. Those placements are really important, but if you go somewhere smaller and more local, you’ll often find you’ll be given more to do and that lets you really tell employers what you can do.”