The BBC’s senior North America correspondent, Gary O’Donoghue came to Ealing’s University of West London earlier this month (6 March 2025) for a special In Conversation event hosted by UWL’s London School of Film, Media and Design (LSFMD).
The foreign correspondent, who is blind, joined the BBC after graduating from Christ Church at Oxford University.
During his conversation with Professor of Gender, Technology and Cultural Politics at LSFMD Helen Hester, Mr O’Donoghue shared his stories of reporting over the last decade which included Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 felony charges in May 2024, the assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, near Pennsylvania in last July and his recent US election win.
Speaking of the assassination attempt on Trump, he said: “We almost didn’t go to that rally. It was a smallish rally, and the day before the Republican National Convention, but there was a half chance he might announce his vice-presidential pick that night.”
“It was a beautiful summer’s evening. When the firing started, I knew straight away it was gun fire because I have heard it so often. We hit the deck because we had no idea where the shots were coming from.”
“We went live, and my producer was grabbing people and bringing them to me.”
After answering a number of questions from the audience, Mr O’Donoghue stayed for a networking reception and talked to attendees including LSFMD students.
Helen Hester said: “It was a such a privilege to talk to Gary about his award-winning journalism and his experiences in the industry. He was so generous with his answers, and I have no doubt that the Journalism and Media and Communications students in the audience will have learned a lot from him. It was an inspiring evening, and I consider myself lucky to work at a university where these sorts of events take place.”
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