Who we are

Black and white logo with a stylized face profile and the text 'RURAL MEDIA'

Rural Media exists to empower rural young people and underserved communities to find their voice, develop their creative talent, and use digital creativity to drive real social change. Over three decades, we've built and refined a creative participation model that gives early-career talent, young rural people and underserved groups the skills, confidence and platforms to grow and to change the world around them

Rural Studios, our sister commercial production arm making content for broadcasters, brands and the public sector, creating pathways for early-career creatives and finding a platform for the stories that deserve to be heard..

Logo with black arrow pointing right and the words "STORY" above and "POINT" below

StoryPoint  is Herefordshire's home for digital creativity. A hub with professional podcast and production facilities where creatives come to meet, collaborate and make.

Interested in working with us?

Visit our careers page: ruralmedia.co.uk/work-for-us

Our impact

Last year, we reached over 4 million online audiences.

We employed 23 staff members.

92% of our direct participants were aged between 14 and 25.

During 2024, we worked with 36 contractors & freelancers

  • 17% self identified as D/deaf, disabled and/or neurodiverse

  • 37% were under 34 years

  • 45% self identified as a woman

  • 8% self identified as Asian/British Asian, 5% as Black/Black British; and 7% as Mixed background

  • 57% self identified as White/White British including 23% Gypsy, Roma, Traveller.

We can and do make a difference. 

Even when our projects are finished, their legacy continues to have a positive and lasting impact.

Through our projects, our participants:

  • Engage with and gain a greater understanding of their communities

  • Improve self-esteem and confidence

  • Learn practical filmmaking and creative digital skills

  • Share and tackle the problems of rural isolation

  • Influence policy and help determine their own future

  • Promote a better understanding of their culture, history and way of life

  • Actively participate in cultural production

A woman on a film set, operating a camera with monitoring equipment, in a dimly lit room with a rough wall background.
A young man with glasses wearing a black Nike hoodie, smiling, in front of a microphone, possibly filming or recording.
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Meet the team

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Julie Colman

Head of Production

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Rich Hankins

Post-Production Manager

Contact Julie JulieC@ruralmedia.co.uk
Contact Rich RichH@ruralmedia.co.uk
Contact Dan DanS@ruralmedia.co.uk
Contact Rachel RachelL@ruralmedia.co.uk
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Rich Matthews

Development Director

Callum Neville

Media & Film Technician

Contact Rich RichM@ruralmedia.co.uk
Contact Callum CallumN@ruralmedia.co.uk
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Ewa Olearczyk

Finance Manager

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Mel Page

Office Manager

Contact Ewa EwaO@ruralmedia.co.uk
Contact Mel MelanieP@ruralmedia.co.uk
A smiling young woman with shoulder-length hair in black and white photo.

Lauren Rogers

Head of Youth Programmes

Contact Lauren LaurenR@ruralmedia.co.uk
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Black and white portrait of a young woman with curly hair tied back, wearing a turtleneck sweater, smiling slightly.

Elle Adams

Social Media & Content Producer

Grant Black

CEO & Creative Director

Contact Grant GrantB@ruralmedia.co.uk
Contact Elle ElleA@ruralmedia.co.uk
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Black-and-white photo of a smiling man with short hair, a beard, wearing a dark top and a headset around his neck, standing near a white wall.

Dan Haworth-Salter

Education Manager & Filmmaker

Rachel Lambert

Director/Producer

Our Board

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David Holdsworth

Chair

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Ussud Ali

Black and white portrait of a middle-aged woman with short hair, wearing earrings, a necklace, and a sweater, looking at the camera with a slight smile.

Jo Davidson

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Matt Hayes

Black and white portrait of a smiling young woman with long wavy hair, wearing a dark sweater and earrings, against a white background.

Georgia Helme

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Martin Hitchin

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Judith Vickress

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Ross Whelan

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Hannah Jones

Andriane Usherwood-Brown

Our Partners & Supporters

Logo of the Esmé Fairbairn Foundation featuring a pink circle with white lowercase letters 'ef' and the foundation's name in black text next to it.
BBC Arts logo in black and blue text.
Logo of Herefordshire Council featuring a stylized apple and the council's name in black text on a blue background.
Logo of the Big Lottery Fund with a purple hand and circle, and text 'Big Lottery Fund'
Logo for The Shelley Foundation featuring stylized text with a flowing ribbon design in teal shades.
Logo with the text 'Lakeside Wellness'.
BFI Film Academy UK Network logo with light blue circle and black and white text
Black musical notes on a white background.