ITN announced as new Journalism Diversity Fund supporter

ITN, which includes ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, has joined more than 20 organisations as a backer of the Journalism Diversity Fund (JDF), helping make a career in journalism more accessible for a wider range of candidates.

ITN has provided a total donation of £15,000 for the fund, which has provided more than 600 bursaries since it was established in 2005. More than 300 of those bursaries have been awarded since 2020.

Administered by the NCTJ, JDF bursaries give financial support to aspiring journalists from a diverse range of backgrounds to help cover the costs of studying for the Diploma in Journalism, either as a standalone qualification or as part of a Master’s degree course.

Arti Lukha, managing editor at ITV News said: “ITV News is thrilled to be partnering with the NCTJ. Supporting and inspiring the next generation of journalists is something we are very passionate about and this collaboration is an important step toward building a strong, diverse future for our industry.”

Joanne Forbes, chief executive of the NCTJ, said: “We are delighted that ITN is supporting the JDF. Financial barriers remain one of the biggest obstacles for talented people wanting to enter journalism, and this partnership will help more aspiring journalists get the training they need to thrive in the industry.

“We look forward to working with ITN, and our other JDF partners, to nurture yet more journalistic talent in the year ahead.”

To gain the support of the JDF, candidates must demonstrate that they will bring diversity to the newsroom, and that they are committed to a career in journalism. They must also have a genuine financial need.

The JDF was initially set up with a £100,000 donation from NLA Media Access in 2005.

The number of the JDF’s financial supporters has grown over time, and now includes the Aziz Foundation, Bloomberg, BMJ, the BBC, CNN, DMG Media, Dow Jones, the Financial Times, Channel 4 News, Business Insider, the Journalists’ Charity, News UK, PA Media, the Printing Charity, Reach PLC, Reuters, Sky, ITN, The Stationers’ Foundation, and Yahoo News UK.

Find out more about the JDF here.