A journalism student is getting his tuition fees paid by Sky News in addition to a four-week placement with the station after landing the inaugural Sky Bob Friend Memorial Scholarship.

University of Kent student Alan McGuinness, left, became the first recipient of the prize set up in memory of the broadcaster who died last year.

The new annual scholarship rewards one of Kent’s students studying at the Centre for Journalism in Medway.

Alan, 19, competed against his fellow students in a rigorous three-stage selection process, in which candidates had to outline multimedia treatment of a news story, demonstrate their prowess in current affairs, spelling and grammar, and face a panel of judges.

As the winning student, Alan will have his first-year tuition fees paid by Sky, and can look forward to a four-week work placement at the station later this year.

He formally received his award from Professor Tim Luckhurst, head of the Centre for Journalism, and John Ryley, head of Sky News, at a ceremony at the university earlier this week.

Said Alan: “It’s a really big honour and it took a while for the news to sink in. To be associated with such a respected journalist as Bob Friend is also a huge responsibility, but it makes me even more determined to succeed in my career.”

The student, who is from Lewisham, South East London, says that working as a sports journalist is his number one ambition at present.

Professor Luckhurst said Alan fully deserved his award. “He came through a demanding selection procedure to win this valuable and prestigious scholarship,” he said.

“He now has the chance to prove his worth in the placement at Sky News. It is the opportunity of a lifetime and I’m sure he will make the most of it.”

Rob Kirk, head of editorial development for Sky, added: “We are looking forward to welcoming Alan to Sky News for his placement, where he will learn, first hand, the rigours of working in 24-hour rolling news for TV, online, for radio and for our interactive platforms.

“We’re delighted that we are able to support this scholarship in Bob’s name and very much hope that it will help many more worthy candidates like Alan into successful careers in journalism in the future.”