News
Diversity fund to help 19 budding journalists pay for their training
August 24 2010
Nineteen hopefuls will have the chance to pursue a career in journalism after they were awarded bursaries by the Journalism Diversity Fund on Friday, 13 August. The successful applicants from across the UK were interviewed by four separate panels of experienced media professionals at the Financial Times in London.
The fund, which was set up in 2005 to bring more diversity to UK newsrooms, has now helped 95 students pay course fees and living expenses during their journalism training. The latest bursary recipients were chosen by panel members with backgrounds ranging from newspapers and magazines to radio and TV broadcasting.
They included Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors; Vijay Sharma, head of the BBC Asian network; Joanne Butcher, chief executive of the NCTJ; Rajini Vaidyanathan, BBC news correspondent; Haroon Siddique, news reporter at the Guardian; Marverine Cole, freelance journalist and TV presenter; James Geary, editor of Ode magazine; Dotun Adebayo, presenter for BBC Radio Five Live; and Julian Kossoff, senior editor at Telegraph.co.uk.
When asked about the interview day, Rajini Vaidyanathan, BBC news correspondent, said it had been really inspiring to meet people from such diverse backgrounds who all had different stories to tell. “It really hit home what diversity is all about and it was great to meet people who are incredibly passionate about getting into what is such a competitive profession. I thought the day was inspiring, and actually rather humbling.”
Haroon Siddique, a news reporter at the Guardian, said it was rewarding to meet budding journalists who were so enthusiastic about the profession, despite all the dire predictions about the future of the industry. “Their passion really shone through, with many of them having already overcome challenging personal and/or social circumstances to make it to this stage.
“Journalism can be a very cynical business, but the interviewees' stories of what made them choose it as a career were inspiring and a valuable reminder of what makes the job so great," he said.
The 19 students chosen for bursaries will begin their NCTJ-accredited courses in September at Glasgow Caledonian University; Liverpool Community College; News Associates London and Manchester; noSWeat Journalism Training; The Sheffield College, Norton College; University of Central Lancashire; University of Salford; University of Sheffield; University of Sunderland; and University of Ulster.
Bursary recipient Selena Gray, who will be studying with noSWeat Journalism Training, was a trainee on an ‘introduction to journalism’ programme with Catch 22 Academy, a social enterprise that supports aspiring young journalists, aged 18-30, who find themselves in difficult situations. The academy also helped Christine Fashugba, who was awarded a bursary earlier this year. Catch 22 will be working in partnership with the Journalism Diversity Fund to help create more opportunities in journalism for people from a variety of backgrounds.
All 19 recipients are invited to the Journalism Diversity Fund celebratory lunch at the Daily Mail in London on Thursday, 23 September. They will be joined by past bursary recipients from 2009 and those awarded a bursary earlier this year. The interview and shortlist panel members are also invited to the reception, along with industry-wide supporters of the fund.
In total, 56 aspiring journalists applied for a bursary before the deadline on Friday, 30 June. Brian Dodds, editor, Harborough Mail, and Colin Channon, editor, Chichester Observer, helped to shortlist the 26 applicants who were invited for an interview.
Application forms for the next group of bursaries, which must be received by Friday, 29 October, can be found here. Applicants can be sixth-formers, undergraduates or mature students, but they must have applied to an NCTJ-accredited course starting in early 2011 or later and have a genuine need for a bursary. The shortlisting panel will be looking for those who can demonstrate how they would bring a diverse voice to the newsroom and whether they have the commitment and potential to succeed as a journalist.
If you would like to know more about the Catch 22 Academy, their website is www.catch22mag.com.
Journalism Diversity Fund recipient achieves senior status
August 12 2010
A past bursary recipient of the Journalism Diversity Fund has gained senior reporter status after passing her National Certificate Examination.
Rosemary Davenport, a freelance journalist from Manchester, was successful in her July exam. She said: “It’s really satisfying after all the work to finally get it out of the way. It was very challenging but it gives you a lot more opportunities because the qualification is recognised throughout both the journalism and PR industries.”
Rosemary is currently working as a communications officer for Wigan Council, after leaving her trainee reporter role at the Lincolnshire Echo in January and moving back to Manchester. “I got a job at the Lincolnshire Echo before finishing my course at the University of Salford. I had to leave because I was relocating to Manchester, although I’m now looking to get back into journalism,” she said.
The newly qualified senior journalist is also providing freelance public relations for a charity in Manchester, helping to update their website. She was awarded a bursary by the Journalism Diversity Fund in September 2007 after impressing the interview panel with her bright ideas and the amount of work experience she had.
Speaking about the bursary she received, Rosemary said: “If it hadn’t been for the Journalism Diversity Fund then there’s no way I would have been able to afford my postgraduate diploma course, and I wouldn’t have become a reporter. I received regular support and emails while I was studying – it was a very supportive environment to be in.
“I think people need to be more aware of the fund and understand it isn’t just a cash handout – you actually get a lot of support as well. It wasn’t till I’d read through all the information that I realised I was actually able to apply for a bursary because I thought it was for people from an ethnic minority background,” she said.
Rosemary has since applied to the BBC North scheme, which has operations in Manchester, where she hopes to work as a reporter, specialising in writing content for the web.
The deadline for applications to the next round of bursaries for the Journalism Diversity Fund is Friday, 29 October. For more information about the fund please contact Sam Tonkin, the journalism diversity intern, at journalismdiversityfund@nctj.com or visit the website www.journalismdiversityfund.com
Picture caption: Rosemary Davenport, who received a bursary from the Journalism Diversity Fund, has now passed her NCE.
Journalism diversity intern appointed by the NCTJ
July 21 2010
A new journalism diversity intern has been appointed by the NCTJ on a six-month internship. Sam Tonkin, who is studying an NCTJ distance learning course in news reporting, will be responsible for administering and promoting the Journalism Diversity Fund.
Sam completed his exams in news writing and public affairs in April and is planning to sit the media law and sports journalism exams in November. His role will be to promote and help build support for the Journalism Diversity Fund, including the administration of applications and awarding of bursaries. Sam will also be responsible for organising diversity projects to help raise awareness of the fund.
The 26-year-old from Cambridge, who began his traineeship on Monday 19th July, said he was looking forward to the challenge and was thankful for being given the opportunity. He said: “I’m grateful to have been given the chance to be at the heart of the Journalism Diversity Fund, and to work with everyone to build awareness of the fund throughout the industry. My aim is to develop the fund and increase the number of bursary applications so that more people with diverse backgrounds have a chance to pursue a career in journalism.”
The deadline to submit applications for the next group of bursaries awarded by the Journalism Diversity Fund is 5pm on Friday 29th October. For an application form and more information about the Journalism Diversity Fund visit www.journalismdiversityfund.com or contact Sam Tonkin on journalismdiversityfund@nctj.com.
Editors and senior journalists are also needed to sit on the panel which interviews applicants to the Journalism Diversity Fund. If you would like to help people from diverse backgrounds to pursue a career in journalism please email journalismdiversityfund@nctj.com.
Picture caption: Sam Tonkin, the new journalism diversity intern, appointed to administer and promote the Journalism Diversity Fund.
Diversity intern moves to trainee reporter position
December 23 2009
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Christina Johnson, the NCTJ’s journalism diversity intern, is to complete her six-month contract and start a job as a trainee reporter at the Luton and Dunstable Express at the end of January.
Christina studied the NCTJ-accredited MA in Newspaper Journalism course at Nottingham Trent University. During her studies she completed the NCTJ preliminary Certificate in Journalism, passing with excellent grades in her portfolio and all exams including news writing, media law and public affairs as well as 100wpm shorthand.
Christina’s responsibilities included overseeing the administration, organisation and promotion of the Journalism Diversity Fund as well as the production of the NCTJ’s annual report. She was paid a trainee salary and her training included a period of work experience at the Financial Times.
The 23-year-old from Sutton Coldfield said the job had been challenging but immensely enjoyable: “While it has been demanding it has also been a great privilege to play a part in striving towards greater diversity in newsrooms today. We have seen the number of applications to the fund increase, and this year the figures have hit record numbers which is positive, but it is obvious more still needs to be done with regards to continuing this trend and reaching a wider audience. I am sad the internship has come to an end but I am thrilled to be embarking on a career in journalism.”
Chris Gill, LSN Media series editor, said: “I was very impressed with the wide ranging efforts Christina has put into trying to kick-start her career in local newspapers. She has clearly worked very hard and it was just question of someone giving her a chance, which LSN Media is delighted to do.
“Christina comes to us already having numerous media skills, has an excellent demeanour and, I believe, the qualities to succeed. Her work at the NCTJ was an influential factor in her gaining employment; it showed her versatility. We look forward to her joining us and making her mark.”
NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher said the internship had been a great success: “Having been the recipient of a bursary herself and having done so well at Nottingham Trent, Christina was the perfect choice to be our first intern. She has been a huge asset to the development of the Journalism Diversity Fund and I’m delighted that her employment and training with us has led to a job on a newspaper. Chris Gill has made an excellent appointment and once Christina has completed her 18-month training period I’m sure she will perform brilliantly in the National Certificate Examination.”
Picture caption: Christina Johnson, soon to take up a new post as a trainee reporter.
Diversity bursaries awarded to five aspiring journalists
December 23 2009
Five aspiring journalists have been awarded Journalism Diversity Fund bursaries after impressing a panel of senior industry representatives who praised their determination, passion and potential to succeed.
The Journalism Diversity Fund allows up-and-coming reporters, sub-editors and photographers from under-represented and under-privileged areas of society the chance to fulfil their dreams and train as journalists on the best courses in the business.
The five students were selected from 31 people who applied to the NCTJ administered fund in October for courses starting early in 2010. They are:
• Pavan Amara, who will be studying fast-track newspaper journalism at noSWeat;
• Katie Anderson, who will be studying a foundation course in multimedia journalism at Press Association Training;
• Khudael Ashraf, who will also be studying fast-track newspaper journalism at noSWeat;
• Lowrie Stafford, who will be studying fast-track newspaper journalism at Harlow College;
• Matthew Tollitt, who will be studying press-photography at The Sheffield College, Norton Centre.
The academic year of 2009-10 has seen the greatest number of applications ever received to the fund for the three cohorts, with a grand total of 157. The number of bursaries awarded during this time is 18.
Interviews took place at the Financial Times on Friday 11th December and the interview panel included Hugh Carnegy from the Financial Times, Liz Griffin, former editor of the Hereford Times, Kate O’Toole of the Guardian Media Group, Ian Patel of the Kent on Sunday Group and Keith Stafford, financial journalist.
The next deadline for bursary applications is Friday 30th April 2010 for courses starting in the academic year September 2010 – August 2011.
For further information about the Journalism Diversity Fund visit www.journalismdiversityfund.com and an updated application form and schedule will be available from this website early in the new year.
Editors and senior journalists are needed to sit on the panel which interviews applicants to the Journalism Diversity Fund. If you would like to help young people from socially and ethnically diverse backgrounds start a career in journalism please email christina.johnson@nctj.com