Diversity bursaries awarded to five aspiring journalists
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.
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
