Virginstudent.com, an online site for students, is to recruit four staff from its users and train them as journalists.
It will look both at undergraduates and post-graduate students for the intern posts, based at the website’s London offices. They will get a one-year contract and salary.
The positions cover entertainment, film, music and sport and will go to UK candidates "who have a passionate knowledge about their subject area coupled with strong writing skills".
The newly created posts will replace work provided by part-time, local content writers, based throughout the country, employed to report on local issues. The company believes the new system is a more accountable and fair way to enhance students’ job prospects.
Linda Christmas, senior lecturer in journalism at City University, said: "Any attempt by the media industry to help young journalists get their first break is welcome."
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