A regional daily journalist and single parent has called on editors to realise the importance of diversity in newsrooms by ensuring that mothers and fathers are allowed to “thrive as journalists.”
Hayley Pearce, who works for Brighton daily The Argus, spoke out at the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ diversity in journalism seminar, held at Bloomberg’s London offices on Thursday.
Discussing her experience of being a single parent in the newsroom, she told the seminar: “It’s important that we allow mothers and fathers to thrive as journalists.
“Editors need to realise that diversity is more important than always having someone there to break news, because it can add to the voices and perspectives of the newsroom which is reflective of society.”
Hayley, pictured, is a previous recipient from the NCTJ’s journalism diversity fund, which aims to help fund training for people from diverse backgrounds.
The fund has awarded almost 300 bursaries to fund the journalism training of diverse students since its launch in 2005.
Forty-nine bursaries have been awarded since September 2017.
More than 150 journalists, editors, educators and students attended the seminar, which was followed by a reception where the latest fund recipients were presented with bursaries.
Kay Loveridge was awarded this year’s Claire Prosser bursary, which helps people from all walks of life into broadcast and digital careers and named in memory for former BBC journalism training scheme director Claire Prosser.
Alongside a financial contribution to her studies at Leeds Trinity University, Kay will also participate in work placements with BBC News, the Press Association and Wire Free Productions.
Two recipients were also presented with the Thomas Read bursary, which is awarded each year to a journalist in training with a long-term illness, health problem or disability.
The award, named in memory of Sky Sports News journalist Thomas Read, was given to Josephine Fay and Nicola Kenton, who will both be studying at News Associates London.
Sign up for our free daily email bulletin
Follow HTFP on Twitter
Got a story? Email the Editor at
This is interesting. By accident or design – and I suspect the latter, due to cost concerns – the reporting staff in the newsroom in which I used to work is now overwhelmingly made up of early-twentysomethings from outside the area. And this is not me being ageist, but the papers really suffer because of this lack of diversity. They really need a few older people who play an active part in their community, meet different people and come into the office with stories. All that tends to happen with a group of young reporters – in my experience – is that plenty just tend to socialise with each other.
Report this comment