The Hull Daily Mail has started its pioneering scholarship scheme, which aims to give local people a helping hand into a career in journalism.

And with a first-class degree and three years work in the newsroom behind them, the first scholars, Andrew Morton and Christopher Parker, have finally started as full-time reporters at the Mail.

Little over 72 hours after graduating from their journalism degree course at the University of Lincoln, the Mail’s scholars were writing articles as trainee reporters.

But Andrew Morton, (21), and Christopher Parker, (31), are no strangers to the newsroom, despite only officially joining the Mail this week.

The duo has been part of the Mail’s three-year scholarship scheme, aimed at bringing local people into journalism.

To be chosen for the scholarship, candidates had to be residents of the East Riding for at least 10 years. Once selected, they would attend the University of Lincoln’s BA (Hons) journalism degree course.

The course taught the students reporting skills and newspaper page design, and enabled the scholars to qualify in online and broadcast journalism – website design, operating television studios, fronting news and radio programmes, and news content responsibilities.

This was coupled with vital work experience as Mail reporters for up to 50 days per year.

Having gained the top marks in their year and filling the Mail’s requirements, Andrew, from Beverley, and Chris, from Hessle, were subsequently offered the positions of trainee reporters.

To move up the career ladder, they will now continue their studies, starting the NVQ Level four in newspaper journalism in September. In less than two years, Andrew and Chris should be fully qualified senior journalists.

The Mail’s assistant editor Marc Astley said: “Chris and Andrew are the first people to graduate through the scholarship scheme.

“They have worked extremely hard over the past three years to achieve their ambition of becoming full-time journalists. They are both local lads and I am very proud of their achievements.

“We also run two other schemes which take a non-traditional approach to training. The first involves us taking on A-level school leavers as newsroom and production juniors.

“In a sense they are new versions of the traditional tea boys – apart from the fact they are also female and play a more important role than making hot beverages. After nine-months in a semi-administrative post where they learn the trade on the shop floor, we take them on as proper trainees.

“They then become part of the second scheme we run for new recruits, which is a bespoke NVQ course in conjunction with Grimsby College. Eight people passed this summer and we are sending a further 12 there later this year.

“All these schemes ensure a steady flow of local talent into the newsroom and hopefully these are people who will want to progress their careers with us.”

At last week’s graduation ceremony at Lincoln Cathedral university vice-chancellor Professor David Chiddick congratulated the Mail scholars on achieving excellent results and new positions at the newspaper.

Read Andrew’s story here.
Read Christopher’s story here.

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