Journalism Diversity Fund recipients 2011-2012

Shabana Adam

Shabana recently graduated from Kingston University with a first class honours degree in Journalism and Media and Cultural studies. It was during her time as editor on the student newspaper, The River, that she realised that she wanted to be in the professional world of journalism every day for as long as she could.

The 21-year-old has undertaken work experience at the Richmond and Twickenham Times, Wanderlust and has contributed features to the Asian lifestyle magazine Kismet. Shabana, who hopes to become a travel journalist, is studying the MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire.

Toby Bakare

Toby, 22, from south east London, first got involved with journalism at university where he wrote a number of articles for the politics section of his student newspaper. After graduating from Southampton University with a 2:1 in History, Toby continued to pursue a career in journalism through blogging and work experience at the Guardian.

Toby is studying the fast-track Newspaper Journalism course at News Associates, London.

Lynsey Clarke

Lynsey, 21, from Chester, graduated from Liverpool John Moores University in July with a 2:1 in Media Professional Studies with Television. During her undergraduate studies, Lynsey completed a four week work placement at the Flintshire Leader and the Denbighshire Free Press.

Lynsey will be writing for the Looprevil Press, LJMU's student newspaper, while completing the fast-track Newspaper Journalism course at Liverpool Community College.

Olivia Heath

 Olivia, 21, was recently awarded a first class honours degree in Journalism and Media and Cultural Studies at Kingston University. During her course she wrote for the student union magazine, was the news editor for the student newspaper and was crowned Journalism Undergraduate Student of the Year at Kingston University's Journalism Awards.

Her passion for journalism developed in secondary school when she worked alongside the BBC magazine team to create a glossy magazine. Since then, she’s attended the Catch 22 academy and has undertaken work placements at Pride, First Light and Radio Jackie. Once she’s completed the MA Journalism course at Brunel University, Olivia hopes to become a multimedia journalist.

Jamie Nield-Siddall

Jamie, who lives in Rhyl, north Wales, with his partner and one-year-old son, is studying the Multimedia Diploma at News Associates, Manchester.

The 24-year-old, has done sub editing for transfertavern.com and gained work experience at the North Wales Daily Post and Stockport County F.C. He has a passion for writing and football and hopes that his love for both, combined with his NCTJ Diploma in Journalism, will allow him to have a career in writing for the back pages.

Lucy Roue

For the last 18 months Lucy, from Scarborough, has worked as an editorial assistant at ncjMedia in Newcastle. During her time there she sourced numerous leads for the three regional titles, including a front page story, and ran her own political blog during the General Election.

After graduating from Newcastle University with a 2:1 in English Literature, the 23-year-old gained work experience with the Scarborough Evening News before landing her job in Newcastle. Lucy is studying the Multimedia Journalism Foundation Course at Press Association, Newcastle.

Vicky Amaning

Vicky’s passion for journalism was ignited having attended the Catch 22 academy. The social enterprise equipped her with the basic principles of journalism and she began freelancing for a variety of publications.

Vicky has undertaken work experience at the Daily Mirror and the Surrey Herald and is now enjoying the Multimedia Journalism Foundation Course at Press Association, London.

Natricia Duncan

Originally from the island of St.Vincent and the Grenadines, Natricia freelanced for Caribbean newspapers The Searchlight and the Trinidad & Tobago Mirror. 

In June 2000, Natricia graduated with a BA in English from Andrews University in the United States and has since written for The Voice and the Uxbridge Gazette in the UK. Natricia is currently volunteering for Hayes FM and she hopes the MA Journalism course at Brunel University will bring her closer to her dream of becoming an investigative journalist.

Kirsten Elder

Kirsten, 24, has aspired to be a print journalist since the age of 14 when she had her first poem published in a young adult’s poem anthology.She graduated in 2009 from the University of Ulster with a BA honours degree in Journalism and Film Studies.

She has completed work experience at a variety of publications including the Belfast Waterfront Hall, The Belfast Newsletter and The Coleraine Chronicle. Kirsten, from Northern Ireland hopes that the Diploma in Journalism at Belfast Metropolitan College will equip her with the skills needed to become a journalist on a local newspaper. 

Leonora Houston

Having always aspired be a journalist since the age of 10, Leonora is studying the NCTJ Multimedia Diploma at News Associates.

The 22-year-old has written for the Manchester Evening News, undertaken a placement at The Big Issue and writes for her own blog lollipopsbreakingnews.wordpress.com.

John May

John graduated in Psychology from the University of Wales Institute. Here, he was the music editor of the student union newspaper for two years. Since graduating in 2010, John has spent the last year undertaking work experience at various publications including The Bath Chronicle, The Herald, Buzz and Swansea Life Magazine.

John writes for his music blog Basement Fever and recently became press agent for Faux Discx. The 22-year-old is studying a PgDip in Journalism at Kingston University.

Natasha Millar

Natasha always wanted to be a journalist and as a child she used to pretend to read the evening news to her grandparents. In June Natasha graduated with a first class honours in European Studies with Media Studies at University of Ulster and she is currently studying the MA Journalism course at the University Of Ulster.

The 25-year-old has worked at Q Radio Network and does voice work for NewBlue Media and Radioactive Media. She also volunteers for the local Blind Centre within their Talking News department.

Jane Renton

Jane graduated from Liverpool University in 1994 with a 2:1 in English & French Literature. Qualifying as a teacher in 1997, she taught in London before having three children with disabilities. Since having children she has freelanced for newspapers and magazines and writes regularly for political blog The Groucho Tendency and diversity website The TV Collective. 

Working actively in local government, she is helping to found a charity to support parents and carers of disabled children and is directly involved in campaigning for disability rights. Jane is studying the MA Newspaper Journalism course part-time at Nottingham Trent University.

Andrew Watson

Andrew, from Aberdeen, is studying Magazine Journalism at Up To Speed Journalism Training. The 23-year-old discovered he wanted to be a journalist when he joined his secondary school's reporters' group and visited Aberdeen Journals. Here he saw how the newsroom and printing presses worked and this experience left him desperate to get a job in journalism.

Having studied an HND in Communication with Media at Aberdeen College, Andrew went to The Robert Gordon University and completed a BA in Publishing with Journalism. During this time he got his first article published with the local family history society, along with several other articles.