Vanessa Kennedy is an Edinburgh-based broadcast journalist and television presenter working for STV News. Her career covers reporting, presenting, filming, editing, interviewing and producing content for television and digital platforms.
She is known for working in fast-moving news environments where stories can change within minutes. Her role requires confidence in front of the camera, strong writing skills and the ability to produce a complete news package under tight deadlines.
Unlike presenters who only read prepared scripts, Kennedy has experience across the full production process. She sources stories, conducts interviews, films footage, edits packages and presents reports from studios and locations across Scotland.
Her work has included health, education, social issues, crime, housing, politics, community matters and human-interest stories. She has also worked on live broadcasts and breaking-news coverage, where accuracy and speed are equally important.
Vanessa Kennedy’s Career at STV
Vanessa Kennedy joined STV as a Production Journalist in February 2015. During this early stage, she worked on local stories, prepared news packages and edited footage using Avid Newscutter. Her responsibilities also included producing the eight o’clock news bulletin, presenting STV Edinburgh and the STV late bulletin, and helping prepare STV Edinburgh News at Ten. This gave her direct experience of newsroom planning, broadcast timings and editorial decision-making.
In August 2016, Vanessa Kennedy moved into the role of Video Journalist. This position expanded her work beyond newsroom production. She began sourcing stories, filming reports, editing packages, conducting interviews and writing digital copy for online publication. By October 2016, she was also working as an On-Screen Multi Media Broadcast Reporter and Presenter. Since then, she has delivered reports from studios and locations throughout Scotland.
Her Work as a Self-Shooting Journalist
A self-shooting journalist must manage many duties independently. Kennedy’s professional description highlights her ability to film, edit, write and present her own work. She has experience with live and pre-recorded interviews, feature reports, hard-news packages and breaking stories. She has also worked inside an SNG truck, a mobile broadcasting unit used to transmit live television from outside locations.
This type of work demands calm decision-making. A reporter may have to reach a location, identify the strongest interviews, record pictures, write a script and deliver the finished package within a short period. Kennedy’s career shows a steady move from behind-the-scenes production into visible reporting and presenting. That combination has helped her develop a broad understanding of television news.
Early Professional Experience
Before joining STV, Kennedy gained experience in broadcasting, communications and production. From October 2012 to December 2013, she worked as a Broadcast Assistant with Pain Concern. Her duties included producing transcripts, preparing running orders, maintaining programme logs and editing radio shows.
Vanessa Kennedy also helped index medical terms and contributed ideas aimed at raising awareness of chronic pain. This role introduced her to specialist broadcasting and the importance of presenting sensitive subjects with care. In 2013, she worked as a Production Assistant with Rattling Stick in London. Although the role lasted only a few months, it added experience in a professional production environment outside Scotland.
In 2014, Kennedy worked with the BBC during the Commonwealth Games. She supported BBC at the Quay events, assisted guests and responded to enquiries relating to broadcasts and public activities. The role gave her an opportunity to work near high-profile athletes, television personalities and major live production operations. Earlier in 2012, she also worked as a Marketing Assistant with Newhaven Communications in Edinburgh.
Education and Academic Background
Vanessa Kennedy studied at the University of Edinburgh from 2009 to 2013. Her course focused on International Relations and Affairs, and she achieved a 2:1 grade. Her studies covered subjects such as international law, democracy, international cooperation, European politics, international security, political Islam and comparative government.
This academic background gives depth to her work on political, social and international issues. It also supports her ability to understand complex subjects and explain them clearly to a television audience. She later completed a Journalism master’s degree at Edinburgh Napier University between 2014 and 2015. The course helped develop her practical skills in reporting, scriptwriting, video editing and broadcasting.
Kennedy has also been associated with Hutchesons’ Grammar School. Her education combines academic study with practical newsroom training, creating a strong foundation for her present career.
Her Reporting Style and Professional Skills
Vanessa Kennedy’s work requires much more than reading news from an autocue. She must build contacts, identify worthwhile stories and gain the trust of people who may be discussing difficult personal experiences. Her stated skills include news reporting, broadcasting, storytelling, scriptwriting, video editing and social media. She also describes herself as curious, motivated and comfortable working independently or within a team.
Her reports often involve sensitive subjects. These include health conditions, pressure on public services, family struggles, social housing problems and personal loss. A strong television report must be accurate while remaining understandable. Kennedy’s work often combines interviews, background detail, official responses and on-location footage to create a clear account of events.
Notable Areas of Her STV Work
Vanessa Kennedy has contributed to coverage of many subjects affecting communities in Edinburgh and across Scotland. Her work has included reports about the impact of endometriosis, concerns over NHS waiting times, childcare costs, support for families, education policy and the availability of social housing.
She has also covered community initiatives, disability support, healthcare campaigns and local development issues. Her human-interest reports give attention to people whose experiences may otherwise receive little national attention.
In 2025 and 2026, her bylines included stories about Edinburgh’s tourist tax, community projects, health concerns, local businesses, schools and family services. She has also presented reports involving political representatives and public bodies. This requires clear questioning and the ability to explain how official decisions affect ordinary households.
Vanessa Kennedy’s Family Life
Vanessa Kennedy has shared selected details about her personal life through social media. She announced that she had become a mother to a daughter named Amila. In a LinkedIn post, she described the first month of motherhood and explained that she planned to step away from her demanding career for about a year to raise her baby.
Vanessa Kennedy wrote about the change from telling other people’s stories to beginning a new personal chapter of her own. The post reflected the challenges of limited sleep alongside the happiness of becoming a parent. A previous Facebook post announced her engagement after a surprise weekend at the Isle of Eriska near Oban. She said the ring had been hidden in a bag of goat food, making the proposal both unusual and memorable.
Another family post referred to a magical wedding in Provence, France, together with a baby enjoying the holiday with her parents. This strongly indicates that Kennedy later married her fiancé, although the public posts do not clearly identify her husband by name.
Vanessa Kennedy’s Age
Kennedy’s exact date of birth has not been confirmed through a reliable public source. Her education timeline provides a reasonable estimate. She began studying at the University of Edinburgh in 2009 and completed Journalism training in 2015. Based on the usual university age range, she is estimated to be approximately 35–36 years old in 2026.
Life Away from the Camera
Vanessa Kennedy’s social media presence shows a balance between journalism, family life and travel. She has shared moments from Scotland, France and family occasions. Her public posts show a warm connection with friends and colleagues, alongside the demanding routine of television work.
Her career has continued through changing stages of life. She has moved from production assistance to newsroom journalism, then into reporting and presenting, while also taking time away from broadcasting to care for her daughter.
Final Thoughts
Vanessa Kennedy’s career reflects the changing nature of modern television journalism. She is not limited to one part of the newsroom. She can investigate a story, interview contributors, record footage, edit a package and present it to viewers. Her academic background in International Relations adds substance to her understanding of politics and public affairs, while her Journalism training supports the practical demands of broadcasting.
At the same time, motherhood has opened a new chapter in her life. With a strong STV career behind her and a young family at home, Kennedy’s professional journey continues to develop both on screen and away from it.
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