The internship scheme will provide interns with a work experience placement of up to three months at a regional newspaper. The Journalism Diversity Fund is offering grants to participants to cover their travel and living expenses.
Joanne Butcher (pictured), NCTJ chief executive, said: “We want to give our bursary recipients the opportunity to get meaningful, hands-on experience in preparation for a career in journalism, while providing the industry with well-trained, diverse trainees who will reflect the communities which they serve.”
Regional titles and companies supporting the pilot scheme include: The Nottingham Post, Sevenoaks Chronicle, South London Press, The Buckinghamshire Examiner and a number of Newsquest titles.
The scheme will be piloted for one year and extended if successful. Those wishing to apply must be a Journalism Diversity Fund recipient and have achieved the NCTJ gold standard (A-C grades in all modules and 100wpm shorthand).
David Pugh, managing director of the Newspaper Licensing Agency and Journalism Diversity Fund advisory board member, said: “As a sponsor of the Journalism Diversity Fund I am delighted that our annual donation is being put to such practical use. Despite these tough economic times, the media industry is committed to encouraging and increasing diversity in newsrooms across the UK.”
About the Journalism Diversity Fund
The NCTJ says: “The Journalism Diversity Fund was set up by those in the media industry who want to join together to support the training of journalists from ethnically and socially diverse backgrounds.
Editors recognize it is vital that journalists reporting the news reflect the communities they serve. The fund is aimed at people without the financial means to attend NCTJ training courses. Courses are run at universities, colleges and private training providers across the UK.
Applicants can be sixth formers, graduates, mature students, or professionals looking for a career change, but all need to demonstrate a genuine commitment to journalism and the potential to be successful.”
