Leona O’Neill has been a journalist for over 25 years in Northern Ireland. She is an expert in newsroom mental health, has written and contributed to many books on the subject, is undertaking a PhD on the subject and is the founder of newsroom mental health campaign #Mediastrong.

#Mediastrong brings together experts from over the world every year in London for a conference on newsroom mental health. This year’s conference was backed by Sky News and saw newsroom leaders from across the UK and the world attend and take part in the event. The conference was also beamed live into newsrooms throughout the world.

Leona is a Course Director and Lecturer in Journalism at Ulster University, where she has helped develop Hostile Environment Training for journalists and weaved trauma awareness and training through the journalism programmes she oversees.

She has managed many news outlets over the years. Was a senior member of the editorial team at the Irish News for many years and ran several magazines and online news portals as well as working as a news reporter for the Belfast Telegraph and QRadio and as a Field Producer for worldwide media outlets such as Al Jazeera, Vice News, ABC, CBC, PBS News and many more globally.

She is a seasoned, trusted and establish journalist with extensive experience covering traumatic events and facilitating training sessions and events with regards media trauma management. She is also adept at creating engaging and informative educational materials, including workshops, online courses, and resource guides.

She has been a university lecturer for five years, has a Degree in English and a Masters in Higher Education (PGChep) and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She is currently undertaking a PhD in Journalism and Trauma.

She has a proven track record of delivering high-quality training and support services to journalists and news organisations in the area of newsroom mental health, has worked with organisations and universities across the world in this area and has written a hugely successful book on the subject – Breaking, Trauma in the Newsroom.

The book has been covered all over the world and the #Mediastrong conference was muted as the biggest newsroom mental health event ever. All of these projects have received vast amounts of positive feedback and testimonials from participants, highlighting the effectiveness of her innovative techniques to enhance journalists' resilience and well-being.

Leona has contributed to many areas of mental health, relating the experiences of journalists to other professions who are exposed to trauma regularly and has spoken at mental health conferences and events worldwide.

In 2023 she took to the stage at Stormont in Belfast – in an event to mark 25 years of peace in Northern Ireland - and gave a TedTalk on newsroom wellbeing and the impact of the job, again bringing a niche issue out of the newsroom and into the mainstream.

She is one of the most prolific newsroom mental wellbeing campaigners in the world.