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Seven trainee journalists receive bursaries boost

Seven budding journalists have been awarded bursaries from the Journalism Diversity Fund as they prepare to begin their studies.

The students were selected from 69 people who applied for the grants which are administered by the National Council for the Training of Journalists and pay for some or all of a candidate’s fees on an NCTJ-accredited course.

The Journalism Diversity Fund was set up to support the training of journalists from ethnically and socially diverse backgrounds, aimed at people lacking the financial means to attend NCTJ training courses.

The group were chosen after they proved their journalistic potential and diversity in their applications and later when interviewed by the panel.

The seven journalism trainees who received bursaries are:

  • Sharanpreet Bajwa: PgDip in Journalism at De Montfort University, Leicester
  • Mark Elliot: Fast-track newspaper journalism at noSWeat
  • Glenn McMahon: Fast-track newspaper journalism at Lambeth College
  • Nicola Roots: MA Journalism at Kingston University
  • Carl Rose: Press photography at The Sheffield College, Norton Centre
  • Paul Smith: MA Journalism at the University of Ulster
  • Sam Smith: Fast-track newspaper journalism at News Associates, London
  • Interviews took place at the Guardian last month and the panel included Afua Hirsch, of the Guardian, and Amar Singh, of the London Evening Standard.

    Editors and senior journalists are needed to sit on the panel which interviews applicants to the fund. Anyone wishing to get involved is asked to email [email protected].

  • The next deadline for Journalism Diversity Fund bursary applications is 30 October for courses starting early next year. For further information and to apply visit journalismdiversityfund.com.
  • Comments

    Cleland Thom (03/09/2009 12:29:57)
    Well done these guys. Also to mention that at CTJT, we offer scholarships too, out our own pockets, for the disabled, unemployed, less well off & marginalised – for e-courses, which are excluded from the NCTJ scheme.
    We spend a minimum of 10% of our income on this and currently have 20 students benefiting from free or subsidised training.
    Anyone can apply to [email protected]