A journalism student will get chance to report from the frontline of Scottish politics after a competition was launched.

The Scottish Parliament has joined forced with the Fife Free Press to offer the week-long placement at Holyrood to a final year or postgraduate student studying at a college or university north of the border.

The chosen student will get their own hot desk working alongside Scotland’s best-known political journalists in the Parliament’s Media Tower, where they will file copy for publication in the weekly paper.

To be in with a chance of winning, students are invited to submit a 500-word essay on ‘What do you see as the main achievements of the Scottish Parliament to date?’

Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP said: “The Scottish Parliament is delighted to be launching this student placement competition for up and coming journalists.

“We are at the hub of political news in Scotland, therefore I can think of no better place for a student to learn their trade.”

The judging panel includes Fife Free Press editor Allan Crow, Katrine Bussey, political editor of the Scottish Press Association, BBC reporter Raymond Buchanan and Annette McCann, head of media affairs at the Scottish Parliament.

Entries should be clearly marked Student Journalist Competition and sent to Media Relations Office, Q3.03, Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP by 3 December.

Five finalists will be invited for interview and the winner will be announced in January.