Award-winning journalist Nadine White on amplifying voices and lessons learnt at Birkbeck

Nadine arrived at Birkbeck at the time her first byline appeared in Vision, a free independent Caribbean newspaper, and was laying the foundations of her journalism career. She chose the institution for its academic reputation, its strength in humanities and its flexibility. She said: “Evening study allowed me to work during the day, which was really important, because I was able to pursue internship opportunities, carry out work experience, do interviews and afford my studies.”

She soon began writing for The Voice, Britain’s longest-running Black newspaper. Balancing work, journalism placements and study was demanding but instilled habits that would carry her forward. She said: “It honed a sense of discipline in me, which has put me in good stead throughout my career.”

Growing up in Brixton, Nadine became aware that realities of Black British life, including her own, were missing from mainstream coverage. She said: “I didn’t see my experiences and the perspectives of those around me reflected in the news. News should reflect the society it serves - and our society is wonderfully multicultural, comprised of people from all walks of life. Back then, I noticed that Black stories in the mainstream were often reported through the lens of negativity - like crime - or entertainment, if at all. I wanted to be part of the solution and to amplify the voices and perspectives we often didn’t hear about.”

After honing her craft in the Black press, studying for a Diploma in Journalism and building a reputation for agenda-setting reporting at the HuffPost, Nadine made history in 2021 as Britain’s first dedicated Race Correspondent at The Independent.

She said: “I’d long decided that I want to be intentional about telling these stories from Black and marginalised communities, so my work at the Independent felt like an important continuation of that. Far from it just being a job, I saw it as an important responsibility.”

Her investigations throughout her career - exposing serious allegations within SPAC Nation church about financial and spiritual exploitation, uncovering racism experienced by Black refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine to revealing discriminatory language embedded in official government documents - had tangible impact. Policies were reviewed, apologies issued and further scrutiny prompted. She said: “To know that people feel empowered, listened to and feel that their voices are being amplified through my work, it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Nadine’s journalism has earned wide recognition. She became the first Black reporter shortlisted for the Paul Foot Award for investigative journalism, won the Paulette Wilson Windrush Award, and has been recognised by Parliament, the British Journalism Awards and Amnesty International. She was also named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in 2021 and included in MIPAD’s global 100 Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent for 2025 in the Media and Culture category.

Nadine’s storytelling has expanded into film with her debut documentary, Barrel Children: The Families Windrush Left Behind, released in 2023 to box-office success. Seven years in the making and inspired by her dad’s own upbringing, she describes the project as “a real labour of love”. The film continues to reach audiences internationally and spark global dialogue on Caribbean migration, family separation and identity. The sequel, Barrel Children Part 2: Echoes of Separation, due to be released this year, captures the voices of parents who made the difficult decision to leave their children behind. Nadine said: “It's been humbling to sit at the feet of our elders and hear from them what it was like. They had to grapple with their own trauma from the displacement that a lot of people experienced through migration.”

In 2025, Nadine left The Independent to launch her own independent platform, Black Current News, with the aim of spotlighting news and narratives that centre Black British experiences. The response has been swift, with rapid subscriber growth to its weekly newsletters and exclusive reports, resulting in strong online engagement.

Drawing on everything she has learned since her days studying at Birkbeck, Nadine encourages students to stay rooted in purpose: “Hold on to your reason, whatever it may be. It needs to be strong enough to carry you through difficult moments. When things get tough, returning to your why is often what keeps you moving forward.”