Diversity in the newspaper industry could be boosted after the National Council for the Training of Journalists appointed an intern to promote a special fund.

Sam Tonkin, from Cambridge, has been chosen to administer and promote the Journalism Diversity Fund, which is run by the NCTJ to allow students from ethnically or socially diverse backgrounds to attend journalism courses.

He will carry out the six-month internship while he continues to study an NCTJ distance learning course in news reporting, having already completed exams in news writing and public affairs.

Sam’s role will be to promote and build support for the diversity fund, including administering applications and organising projects to help raise awareness about it.

He said: “I’m grateful to have been given the chance to be at the heart of the Journalism Diversity Fund, and to work with everyone to build awareness of the fund throughout the industry.

“My aim is to develop the fund and increase the number of bursary applications so that more people with diverse backgrounds have a chance to pursue a career in journalism.”

A record 13 students were awarded bursaries last month and the deadline for the next applications will be 29 October.

The fund is also looking for editors and senior journalists to sit on the interview panel for the fund.

For further information, visit journalismdiversityfund.com or email [email protected].