NCTJ celebrates 20 years of the Journalism Diversity Fund

The NCTJ is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Journalism Diversity Fund (JDF) this month, marking two decades of commitment to creating a more diverse media industry.

Since its launch in 2005, the fund has supported over 600 aspiring journalists from underrepresented backgrounds to access quality journalism training and has set the goal to award its 700th bursary by the end of next year.

Data from the 2024 Journalists at Work report underscores the continued urgency of this mission. Only 9% of journalists have a parent from the lowest occupational categories, an improvement from 3% in 2012, but still well below the 19% figure for all UK workers. While the percentage of journalists from white ethnic backgrounds has decreased from 95% in 2012 to 91% in 2024, this still significantly exceeds the 85% proportion across all UK workers

The proportion declaring a disability has risen significantly from 15% to 27% over the same period. While these figures reflect the progress that the industry has been working to address for nearly two decades, they show there are still longstanding challenges.

Joanne Forbes, chief executive of the NCTJ, said: “When the NCTJ set up the fund in 2005, the industry was grappling with some uncomfortable truths. The first Journalists at Work report had revealed a worrying decline in social mobility in journalism.

“The Journalism Diversity Fund began with a bold but simple idea and has since gone on to change lives, change careers, and help change the make-up of our newsrooms. While we have made meaningful progress over two decades, the latest data shows the job is not done. That is why we are pushing ahead with our ambition to reach 700 bursaries in the next year, a fitting milestone to mark 20 years of impact.”

During the anniversary month, the NCTJ is spotlighting alumni from across the decades, whose careers were launched through JDF support, demonstrating the fund’s lasting impact on both individual journalists and the industry.

Keiran Southern

Keiran Southern, who studied with the Press Association in 2014 and is now West Coast Editor at The Sunday Times, said: “None of this would have been possible without the JDF. Its financial help allowed me to break into journalism. While I was training in Newcastle, staff were often in touch asking how I was and if there was anything they could do to help. I am proud to have paid that help back in a small way by serving as a mentor for new JDF recipients.”

Lisa Valentine, a 2023 recipient, studied for her NCTJ diploma part-time with News Associates. Now an NCTJ ambassador, she is championing quality, trusted and diverse journalism while completing her NQJ apprenticeship with the Bury Times and Darlington College.

Lisa Valentine

Lisa said: ” When I saw an NCTJ Diversity Report in 2022 stating that just two per cent of journalists had a parent in the lowest two occupational groups, it gave me the final push to embark on a career change”

“I have been lucky enough to benefit from two mentors via the JDF, who both work for a national publication and have not only provided me with invaluable advice, but helped me to feel valued and valid as a peer.”

Established with a £100,000 donation from NLA media access in 2005, the fund is now supported by the BBC, Bloomberg, BMJ, Business Insider, CNN, dmg media, Dow Jones, the Financial Times, Journalists’ Charity, News UK, PA Media, Printing Charity, Reach PLC, Reuters, Sky, The Stationers’ Foundation and Yahoo News UK. Specialist bursaries are also awarded including from The Thomas Read Bursary and The Aziz Foundation.

As part of its anniversary year, the NCTJ is launching a renewed fundraising effort. The fund relies entirely on the backing of organisations to continue its work breaking down barriers to journalism careers.

The NCTJ is actively seeking new partners to help expand the programme’s reach and support even more diverse talent entering newsrooms.

Joanne Forbes said: “We are always looking for new partners who share our commitment to creating a more representative media industry. Diverse newsrooms are essential to best serve our communities and ensure talent, not circumstance, determines who gets to tell our stories.”

She added: “Quality, trust, and diversity in journalism are not separate goals, they are interconnected. As we celebrate how far we have come and look ahead with fresh energy to reach even more aspiring journalists from disadvantaged communities, our commitment to breaking down barriers and building up talent is stronger than ever.”

Organisations interested in supporting the Journalism Diversity Fund are encouraged to contact Erin Johnson, fundraising manager, at [email protected].

To hear from our alumni throughout the anniversary month, follow the NCTJ on social platforms @NCTJ_news.