NCTJ’s Journalism Diversity Fund reaches 700 bursaries during 20th anniversary year

The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) reached a major milestone in August, awarding its 700th Journalism Diversity Fund (JDF) bursary during the fund’s 20th anniversary year, ahead of the end-of-2026 target. 

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The milestone comes as the JDF marks two decades of supporting aspiring journalists from underrepresented backgrounds to access quality journalism training. Since its launch, the fund has been made possible through backing from across the journalism industry, helping remove financial barriers for talented people who might otherwise struggle to enter the profession. 

NLA Media Access, whose founding donation established the JDF in 2005, has remained its lead supporter throughout the fund’s 20-year history, continuing to increase its backing for widening access to professional journalism training. 

The achievement has been welcomed by supporters from across the industry, including CNN, News UK, the BBC and Reach, recognising the fund’s role in widening access to journalism while maintaining the standards expected of professional training and newsroom entry. 

Rebecca Moore, vice president for news production at CNN, said: “CNN is proud to support the Journalism Diversity Fund and its mission to enable talented people from all backgrounds to pursue a career in journalism. 

“Bringing a wider range of perspectives, experiences and voices into our newsrooms makes our journalism stronger and better serves our audiences. Reaching 700 bursaries is a fantastic milestone and a testament to the impact the JDF continues to make.” 

Mark Hudson, head of diversity and early talent at News UK, said: “There is no better pipeline for talent than the NCTJ Journalism Diversity Fund. Each year, I’m blown away by the talent, passion and determination the applicants possess. So many of our talented young journalists have come through the scheme. The JDF is vital for ensuring our newsrooms reflect the audiences we are all trying to reach.” 

Daniell Morrisey, editorial portfolio manager with the BBC’s Apprenticeships Team said: “The BBC has been proud to support the Journalism Diversity Fund and its work to help bring a wider range of voices and perspectives into journalism. Reaching 700 bursaries is an important milestone for a scheme that has helped open up access to the industry and support journalism that better reflects the audiences it serves.” 

Joanne Forbes, chief executive of the NCTJ, said: “Reaching 700 Journalism Diversity Fund bursaries is a significant milestone, but the real achievement lies in what those bursaries represent. They are about talented people being given a fair opportunity to prove what they can do. 

“The JDF remains one of the clearest examples of opportunity in practice. It removes a financial barrier; it does not lower a professional one. Every recipient is expected to meet the same rigorous standards, access high-quality training and compete for the same jobs as everyone else. 

“As we mark 700 bursaries awarded, we should celebrate not only the number but the principle behind it, which is widening access while keeping quality at the heart of everything we do.” 

The milestone will also be celebrated at the NCTJ’s Inclusion in Journalism conference, hosted in partnership with Sky at its Isleworth headquarters on Friday, 6 November. The event will bring together JDF recipients, mentors, supporters and employers from across the industry to explore representation in journalism, reporting under pressure and the skills needed for modern newsrooms.