News

Diversity intern moves to trainee reporter position

December 23 2009

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.

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 

 Trainees applaud the life-changing power of the Journalism Diversity Fund

October 1 2009

Two aspiring journalists praised the power of the Journalism Diversity Fund at a celebratory reception and lunch attended by senior editors and journalists who support the fund’s work.

Guardian News and Media today hosted the annual celebratory lunch of the Journalism Diversity Fund at The Guardian in Kings Place. The fund aims to increase diversity in newsrooms by awarding bursaries to aspiring journalists from diverse backgrounds applying to NCTJ accredited courses.

Kim Fletcher, NCTJ chairman, welcomed invited guests to the event and on behalf of the Journalism Diversity Fund accepted a donation of £100,000 from David Pugh, managing director of the Newspaper Licensing Agency.

Kim said: “More than anything we want journalists to reflect the people they write about. The Journalism Diversity Fund is a wonderful enterprise by the whole of the journalism industry, seeing the need for change and responding to that need.”

Alan said: "I think there has been uneasiness for some time in the industry. Something happened about 20 years ago, journalism became a profession of middle class graduates. Editors became aware that journalism had become too restrictive and asked what could the industry do about it?

"The work the Journalism Diversity Fund is doing is vital, this change is not going to happen unless we get the help of the whole industry, the status quo will always win through."

Supporters then heard from to two young people who last year received fund bursaries; Eimhear O’Neill, who now works as an investigative reporter for television production company Below the Radar; and Christina Johnson, now working with the NCTJ as an intern helping to promote the Journalism Diversity Fund, before embarking on a journalism career.

Christina said: “As a recipient of the fund last year I found it an amazing help and without it, I would have found it extremely tough to complete my training in journalism.

"Journalism is a popular career choice and competition for jobs is high, editors want diverse newsrooms, but there’s a major shortage of ethnic and socially deprived applicants.

"The fund trains talented people from ethnic or socially diverse communities to meet this need and by promoting the fund to a wider audience we will be able to help redress the imbalance in newsrooms today."

Supporters of the Journalism Diversity Fund will celebrate with the successful students and trainees the fund has helped at a reception and lunch next week.

The fund, which aims to increase diversity in newsrooms by awarding bursaries to aspiring journalists from diverse backgrounds applying to NCTJ accredited courses, will host its annual celebratory lunch at Guardian News and Media in Kings Place, London, on Thursday 1st October.

At the lunch, bursary recipients past and present will meet each other as well as network with industry professionals who support the fund.

Last year the fund received £100,000 from the Newspaper Licensing Agency along with £25,000 from the Scott Trust.

"This will be my third lunch and it’s genuinely encouraging to see people who are benefitting from the Journalism Diversity Fund and who are bringing diversity and fresh talent into newsrooms."

Noted journalists who will be attending the event include Alan Rusbridger, editor-in-chief of Guardian News and Media; Hugh Carnegy, executive editor of the Financial Times; and Kamal Ahmed, city editor of the Sunday Telegraph.

Thirteen bursary recipients are due to start their NCTJ journalism training this academic year, including a lift industry worker who wants to pursue his dream career, and a photographer from a socially diverse background who has no journalism qualifications but has had some work published in national newspapers. 

The seven students were selected from 69 people who applied to NCTJ administered fund in June.

They were chosen after they proved their journalistic potential and diversity in their applications and later when interviewed by the panel.

The seven journalism students who received bursaries are:

• Sharanpreet Bajwa, who will be studying a PgDip in Journalism at the Leicester Centre for Journalism at De Montfort University;

• Mark Elliot, who will be studying fast-track newspaper journalism at noSWeat;

• Glenn McMahon, who will be studying fast-track newspaper journalism at Lambeth College;

• Nicola Roots, who will be studying an MA Journalism at Kingston University;

• Carl Rose, who will be studying press photography at The Sheffield College, Norton Centre;

• Paul Smith, who will be studying MA Journalism at the University of Ulster;

• Sam Smith, who will be studying fast-track newspaper journalism at News Associates in London.

Interviews took place at the Guardian on Friday 14th August and the interview panel included Asad Ahmed, BBC London news presenter, Lucy Bulmer, freelance journalist and former editor of Shine magazine, Afua Hirsch of the Guardian and Amar Singh of the London Evening Standard.

The Journalism Diversity Fund will hold its annual celebratory lunch at the Guardian on Thursday 1st October.

The six trainees were chosen from 57 people who applied to the NCTJ administered fund in April.

They were selected after demonstrating their diversity and potential for a career in journalism, first in their applications and later to an interview panel made up of senior figures from the media industry.

The six journalism trainees who received bursaries are:

• India Adams, who will be studying MA news journalism at the University of Sunderland;

• Martin Graham, who will be studying an MA in multi-media journalism at Glasgow Caledonian University;

• Amanda Hall, who will be studying MA print journalism at the University of Sheffield;

• Sophie Maden, studying a PgDip in print journalism, also at the University of Sheffield;

• Nneka Opara, who will be studying a pre-entry newspaper journalism course at Lambeth College;

• Nicola Williams, who is set to start a fast-track newspaper journalism course at Harlow College.

Interviews took place at the Financial Times on Thursday 11th June and the interview panel included Hugh Carnegy from the Financial Times, Paul Durrant of the Eastern Daily Press, Kate O’Toole of the Guardian Media Group and Rob Singh from thelondonpaper.

The Journalism Diversity Fund will hold its annual celebratory lunch at the Guardian on Thursday 1st October.

A further 68 applications were received for the Journalism Diversity Fund deadline in June and a shortlist of applicants who will be called for an interview will be announced in August. The next deadline for bursary applications is 5pm on Friday 30th October 2009. 

During her postgraduate studies at Nottingham Trent University, Christina completed the NCTJ preliminary certificate in Journalism, passing all exams in news writing, law and public affairs and gaining a 100wpm shorthand speed.
Christina’s responsibilities will include overseeing the administration, organisation and promotion of the Journalism Diversity Fund. As an intern Christina is paid a trainee level salary.

The 22-year-old from Sutton Coldfield, who was a fund recipient herself last year and was given financial help towards her course fees at Nottingham Trent University, said she was delighted when she found out her application for the intern post was successful.