18th December 2007

Email this Page |

Newsman Milne Rowntree graduates at the University of Ulster today with an MA degree in Journalism.

A former police officer, Milne returned to the University of Ulster to follow his dream of becoming a journalist in 2004. He successfully completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Newspaper Journalism in 2005 and, working on his dissertation on a part-time basis, has now submitted his research and been awarded his degree.

Milne said: “I was in the position to follow another career when I retired from the police service at 50. Journalism had caught my imagination some years before and it was my ambition to enter that profession.

“I considered all the options for entering journalism and soon found what I believe to be the best course available in Ireland, at the University of Ulster. I successfully applied for the Post-Graduate Diploma in Newspaper Journalism at the Coleraine campus and was a full time, if rather mature, student for the 2004-2005 academic year.

“As a direct result of the course I have been in constant employment, as a journalist, since finishing my full-time studies. In fact, I secured part-time employment with a newspaper while I was still studying. I am currently reporting with the Coleraine Times newspaper, part of the Johnston Press group and am a regular contributor to a range of newspaper, radio and television outlets.

“The Media Department made me feel very welcome as I returned to full-time education and the help and encouragement of all the staff and my fellow students made my studies a very rewarding experience. I want to thank them all.”
Milne has previously studied at Queen’s University, Belfast, gaining a BSc degree in Geology in 1978. He returned to part-time study at the University of Ulster through a work sponsored scheme in the mid 90s, successfully attaining a Masters degree in Business Administration.

Not content to rest on his laurels. Milne has again returned to the Coleraine campus and is now lecturing in a part-time capacity on the current MA Journalism course. In this role he has represented the University at a number of events in Brussels and London.

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young