Nine Salford students and alumni secure spaces on Edinburgh TV Festival's talent scheme

The seven current students and two Salford alumni make up just less than a fifth of the total cohort for the festival’s prestigious Network scheme which identifies and nurtures the next generation of TV talent from all backgrounds.

Network students will head to Edinburgh for four days of sessions and masterclasses from some of the most influential and important people in the media industry that are designed to introduce them to every aspect of the television industry and set them up for their first roles post-graduation. 

Students will also be paired with a mentor from the sister scheme Ones to Watch and join the festival’s job pool, connecting them with entry-level job opportunities.

One of the lucky few heading to Edinburgh is 48-year-old mature student Byron Mondahl from our MA Documentary Production course.

Byron said: “As a 48-year-old mature student I am so delighted to have this opportunity of being part of The Network. It feels like the perfect start to my new life and career in television. Knowledge, insights I will gain, practice I will engage in, and having a mentor to guide me through my first year in the industry I know will be invaluable. I am so excited!”

Joining Byron are fellow course mates Olajumoke Olufunwa, Maddie Denton and Morgan Smith, MA Drama Production students Adam Riley and Paul Robert Kenney, BA Multimedia Journalism student Danica Perrin and MA Documentary Production graduates Sam Butler and George Cooke.

Simon Stanton-Sharma, Stream Leader for MA Drama Production for TV, Film and Digital Media at the University of Salford, said: “We are thrilled that for the second year running, our MA Drama and Documentary Production courses have been so well represented at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

“Huge congratulations must go to the brilliant students and alumni for their enthusiasm and dedication towards a career in television. This is also testament to the continued focus across our programmes on our relationships to industry, both within Media City and across the country.”

Nancy Porter, Creative Opportunities Coordinator at the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology, said: “The Edinburgh TV Festival and talent scheme The Network is such a fantastic opportunity for our students. It provides them with the chance to engage with industry through networking and developing their practical skills. Through talent schemes such as The Network, we can continue to ensure we provide industry with the next generation of talent.”

Sarah Vignoles, Talent Schemes Director for The TV Foundation, said: “The TV Foundation has a long and successful relationship with the University of Salford which you can see in the number of their students selected for this year’s Network programme.

“The quality of the candidates we see from the University of Salford is incredibly high and that is reflected in the final selections. We’re looking forward to seeing what they all do in Edinburgh.”

The 2023 University of Salford cohort at The Network, from left to right, top to bottom: Adam Riley, Byron Mondahl, Danica Perrin, George Cooke, Maddie Denton, Morgan Smith, Olajumoke Olufunwa, Paul Robert Kenney and Sam Butler.