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Budding sports journalists win Sun scholarship

Two budding sports journalists have won places on a training scholarship run by The Sun and press agency Sportsbeat.

Lee Astley and Karel Ikobonga, both from East London, have been selected for the first SunSport Diversity Training Scholarship, which starts in September and is worth £7,500.

The budding journalists will spend four days a week studying at a News Associates course in Wimbledon, which is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists, and one day a week working on The Sun’s sportsdesk.

The scholarship was launched to provide opportunities to those from Olympic boroughs who have been put off entering journalism because of concerns about college fees.

If Lee and Karel pass all their exams, they will be offered a six-week paid internship with Sportsbeat, followed by a three-month paid internship with SunSport.

NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher said: “I am delighted Lee and Karel have been awarded these very generous scholarships. This is a great opportunity for them and I wish both every success in what is an excellent initiative by Sportsbeat and The Sun.”