Meet the team
Media Relations
Mrs Claire Whitelaw, BA Hons; Westminster Press Diploma in Journalism
Contact Mrs Claire Whitelaw (email at c.m.whitelaw@durham.ac.uk)
Responsibilities
Claire is responsible for the strategic direction and management of the media relations team, charged with getting the highest positive profile for Durham University and managing its reputation in the global media. She leads and oversees media office activities including proactive media relations, media monitoring and evaluation, crisis communications, media training, corporate/policy stories and stakeholder relations on media issues.
Background and expertise
Claire is a trained journalist and experienced communicator. She has worked as a media relations manager for two leading Higher Education institutions, an investigative journalist for BBC One prime time current affairs programmes, a reporter for regional newspapers, including the Yorkshire Post and the Newcastle Journal, and a writer for national consumer magazines.
She has led successful proactive media campaigns internationally, nationally and regionally, across a breadth of subjects including medical science, science and the environment, social and political issues, the arts and education. She also has expertise in stakeholder and internal communications and reactive and crisis communications.
Other passions
Outside work, Claire enjoys long mountain and coastal walks (preferably with good company and fair weather!), playing social and competitive tennis, and live music and theatre.
