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Sophia Smith Galer
Transform digital storytelling with Sophia Smith Galer, speaker, award-winning journalist and content creator. Sophia works with organisations to enhance media innovation, digital engagement and inclusive reporting, delivering expertise recognised by Forbes 30 Under 30 and British Journalism Awards.
Sophia Smith Galer is an award-winning journalist, writer, speaker, and content creator known for her innovative journalism on TikTok. Recognised by British Vogue as one of the 25 most influential women in the UK and included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2022, she received the British Journalism Award for ‘Innovation of the Year’ in 2021 for her efforts to enhance representation in newsrooms and engage younger audiences.
Sophia began her career at the BBC, reporting for the BBC World Service, BBC Radio 4, and BBC World News. She was instrumental in developing Webby-winning social media channels before joining VICE News as a senior reporter, a role she held until February 2024. Her multilingual skills in Spanish, Arabic, and Italian have enabled her to break significant stories, including a viral report on catcalling in Madrid that garnered over 25 million views on TikTok and Instagram.
Sophia has produced and presented a range of content across television, radio, and digital platforms, including documentaries and viral short-form videos. She frequently comments on Sky News and has contributed to BBC Radio 4’s The Today Programme, The Blindboy Podcast, and BBC’s Woman’s Hour. In March 2024, she launched her podcast, "Where to Be a Woman," co-hosted with Scaachi Koul, which explores global wellbeing ideas for women.
As a columnist for iNews, Sophia has announced her second book, How To Kill A Language, acquired by William Collins. This work addresses linguicide and language loss, advocating for language diversity and a multilingual future. Her reporting on health and technology has driven changes on platforms such as TikTok and the NHS website, and she was the first journalist to report on the misuse of political ads on TikTok during the 2020 US election, as featured in her documentary, The TikTok Election.
Recognised as an expert in media innovation, sexual health reporting, and TikTok, Sophia has appeared frequently in British news media. She is the only UK reporter trained to handle hostile environments and accredited to deliver sex education, following her acclaimed book, Losing It: Dispelling the Sex Myths that Rule Our Lives, which became a No.1 Amazon bestseller. In 2023, she became a Visiting Fellow at Brown University’s Information Futures Lab, where she developed resources to combat misinformation and misogyny in British schools.
An experienced speaker, Sophia has addressed topics such as innovation, generational communication, gender equality, and influencer ethics, having spoken at the United Nations Headquarters in New York at the age of 22. With over 160 million views on her videos, she is developing workshops and AI tools to innovate the media landscape while continuing her work in international media.
Topics, sessions and talks
Sophia Smith Galer's investigative work, including her book Losing It, sheds light on the pervasive myths and misinformation surrounding sex education. Her investigative reporting for VICE News exposed the UK government for misleading the public around their investment into sex education training, and she was horrified at the response to Adolescence; why was it that it took a Netflix show, rather than the ample amount of research from scholars, reporting from journalists, and testimony from survivors for the government or mainstream media to take notice of the manosphere crisis in our classrooms?
Her critiques highlight the gaps in current educational systems and the digital illiteracy among parents regarding their teenagers' online experiences. This keynote delves into the societal implications of inadequate sex education and the urgent need for comprehensive digital literacy. Sophia emphasises the role of business leaders in fostering environments that support informed, open dialogues about sexuality and digital engagement, ensuring the well-being of future generations.
The traditional business card has evolved into dynamic digital content. Sophia Smith Galer illustrates how platforms like Instagram and TikTok serve as modern-day introductions, where Reels and short videos can significantly impact professional branding, and why algorithms tend to prefer individuals over brands. By understanding platform algorithms and content strategies, professionals can enhance their visibility and authenticity while navigating the tightrope of digital sanity and security. This session offers actionable insights into creating compelling digital narratives that align with personal and organisational values, transforming passive online presences into active, engaging platforms for connection and influence whilst also maintaining privacy and personal happiness.
In today's digital age, vertical video platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and LinkedIn are redefining thought leadership. Sophia Smith Galer should know - her reporting now reaches more than three million people a month because of it. A multi-award-winning journalist and content creator with over 160 million views, Sophia demonstrates how professionals can harness these platforms to amplify their voices with fact-based, high-quality content to cut through the noise. Through her experience and having founded and created tools like the AI script assistant 'Sophina', Sophia offers insights into creating impactful short-form videos that resonate with diverse audiences. This session will guide business leaders on leveraging vertical video to establish authority, foster engagement, and navigate the nuances of modern digital communication.
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frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Sophia Smith Galer draws on her own investigative reporting and content creation practice to demonstrate techniques directly, using her TikTok journalism — which reaches over three million people a month and has accumulated more than 160 million views — as a live case study for how professionals can build authority through short-form vertical video.
Sophia Smith Galer's sessions cover sex education and the manosphere crisis in schools, personal and professional branding through short-form video, and thought leadership via vertical video platforms including TikTok, Instagram Reels and LinkedIn. She received the British Journalism Award for Innovation of the Year in 2021, holds a Visiting Fellowship at Brown University's Information Futures Lab, and her reporting reaches more than three million people a month, with over 160 million views across her video content.
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