A cub reporter who spent 150 days at a regional newspaper while studying for a degree has scooped herself a job at the end of it.

University of Lincoln graduate Joanna Hunter gained a first-class honours degree and now works on the Advertiser series, based at the Hull Daily Mail headquarters.

She took part in a pioneering scholarship scheme through her university in partnership with the newspaper industry.

And she was such a success on the course that at her graduation today in Lincoln Cathedral, she will also recieve the first Mike Maloney and Kodak Express Lincoln Photography Award. Joanna excelled in a photography module taken as part of her degree.

Former Mirror Group Newspapers chief photographer and regional press snapper Mike Maloney, who has 104 major prizes to his name, will present the award himself.

Joanna joined the university and the Mail in September 2002 and gained valuable newsroom experience in the following three years.

She said the scheme gave her the chance to experience student life as well as gaining an insight into the industry.

She said: "I don't think I would have done so well at university if I hadn't had the chance to experience working on a daily newspaper.

"I think it's great that local newspapers work with universities to train budding journalists.

"A lot of people graduate from university but find it hard to get a job in journalism because it is a very competitive field.

"However, I didn't have to worry about that because the scholarship prepared me for the hectic newsroom environment."

The 22-year-old was the first female to complete the journalism scholarship scheme.

Joanna and her editor John Meehan