Sixteen aspiring journalists have won funding to help their studies thanks to a scheme aimed at increasing diversity in the industry.

The National Council for the Training of Journalists has revealed the successful applicants for the second Journalism Diversity Fund round of 2021.

They were awarded funding to begin NCTJ-accredited courses in the 2021-22 academic year, and bursaries can help fund their course fees and/or living expenses.

Twenty shortlisted candidates were interviewed remotely on last Frida by panels which included senior managers and editors from the NCTJ, PA Media, BMJ, Aziz Foundation, DMG Media, BBC Africa, Journalists’ Charity, Financial Times, Insider Inc, The Printing Charity, Reach plc and Yahoo UK.

At their interviews, the candidates were questioned on their passion for journalism, financial need and diversity.

NCTJ head of partnerships Will Gore, pictured, posted on Twitter: “Being able to support talented individuals via the JDF is unquestionably one of the best parts of my job.

“Good for them, good for the industry.

“Best of luck to this cohort and huge thanks to our partners across the sector who make the scheme possible by their backing.”

The full list of successful candidates is as follows:

Ezra Arahu, News Associates London
Charissa Cheong, News Associates London
Ryan Dinsdale, News Associates London
Miranda Dunne, Kingston University
Michael Ellis, News Associates London
Victoria Hornagold, Salford University
Zainab Hussain, News Associates London
Erin Memmott, Sheffield College
Emma Montgomery, Ulster University
Thomas Moorcroft, University of Sunderland
Zoe Pickburn, News Associates Manchester
Rebecca Sayce, City of Wolverhampton College
Timothy Sigsworth, News Associates London
Luke Whelan, PA Training
Daniel Woodburn, Salford University