What the JDF meant for my journey through UK journalism

I still remember walking into my Journalism Diversity Fund interview. The year was 2016.

Bright-eyed and vivacious, I bounced into the room armed with handouts of my early work, clippings I’d gathered with pride and a whole lot of enthusiasm, having been a published writer for local and online platforms since 2012.

I wanted the panel to see that I wasn’t just applying on a whim, and I was serious about journalism and determined to make it my career.

Nadine White.

The JDF saw that potential and backed me. That support was life-changing. It helped to cover my studies at News Associates, widely regarded as the UK’s leading NCTJ-accredited journalism school, and it gave me the chance to focus on my training without the crushing worry of how to afford it.

At News Associates, I learned the skills that supported the foundation of my career. The media law module sharpened my understanding of rights, risks and public interest – knowledge I’ve drawn on time and again when reporting sensitive stories.

Public affairs demystified government processes and policy-making, helping to equip me to hold power to account.

Through editing training, I learned precision: cutting copy to length, writing clean intros and fact-checking rigorously – and the Editors’ Code of Practice sharpened the ethical compass that guides me in every piece of work I produce.

Just as importantly, being NCTJ trained earns you respect across the industry. Newsrooms recognise that you’ve put in the hard work to master the fundamentals, and that stamp of approval carries weight.

It signals that you’re serious and that credibility helped me step into national newsrooms with confidence.

In 2018, fresh from journalism school, I joined HuffPost UK as a reporter.

In 2021, I became the UK’s first dedicated Race Correspondent at The Independent, a role I held until very recently as I transitioned out of daily news reporting in favour of long-form journalism.

Over that time, I reported on everything from the hostile environment and police misconduct to cultural milestones and community celebrations – always with the aim of telling stories that mattered to audiences who are too often overlooked.

NCTJ Careers guide 2020/21.

In 2020, I was proud to be featured as the face of the NCTJ’s careers guide, encouraging future generations of journalists to step forward.

In 2019, words from an interview I gave as a HuffPost journalist were installed on the wall of Birmingham City University’s Centre for Journalism, created in collaboration with HuffPost.

Birmingham City University’s Centre for Journalism wall quote.

The quote reads: “I see journalism as a service. I try and use my writing to amplify the perspectives of other people – particularly those at the fringe of society whose views are too often overlooked. My career is not just for me; those people in particular are why I get up in the morning.”

To know that journalism students entering those classrooms each day are greeted by those words has been humbling.

Of course, the lack of diversity in journalism remains an ongoing issue that is also evident across journalism school classrooms.

Neither the classrooms nor the newsrooms fully reflect the society they serve … and that gap has consequences.

At a time when trust in media is low, representation is not just a “nice to have” – it is essential. If news organisations want to appeal to audiences who are turning away from those outlets, they must prioritise telling stories that reflect the breadth of our communities.

Nadine White

That’s part of the reason I am launching Black Current News, a platform dedicated to reporting the stories that matter to Britain’s Black communities and beyond.

It’s my way of pouring the knowledge and experience I’ve gained – made possible at the start by the JDF – into a new vehicle that will serve society, platform other journalists and give space to underserved audiences.

As the JDF marks 20 years, it stands as proof that talent is everywhere, even if opportunity isn’t.

By bridging that gap, the fund has helped to create a stronger, more representative press.

I’m grateful to be one of its alumni and I look forward to seeing how many more journalists it will empower in the years ahead.

Nadine White is a multi-award-winning journalist and filmmaker, Publisher at Black Current News, and the UK’s first Race Correspondent

Find out more about the Journalism Diversity Fund.