The Daily Mail today launched two journalism bursaries in memory of Stephen Lawrence to help young people from deprived backgrounds succeed in journalism.
The awards will be administered by the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.
Neville Lawrence, Stephen’s father, told the Mail: ‘At a time when some aspects of journalism are being criticised, I know from experience that the media can be a very powerful force for good in the world.
‘Without the support of newspapers – and in particular the Mail – it probably would not have been possible for us to get justice for Stephen, as we did finally last week, no matter how hard we tried.
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‘By taking up our case and bringing it to the public’s attention, you helped us to expose the flaws in the police investigation and put them and the authorities under so much presser that they had to right the wrongs they had done.”
The new journalism bursaries will add to the architecture bursaries the trust has already handed out to nearly 100 students.
Mr Lawrence told the Mail: ‘Journalism is one of those careers, like Stephen’s chosen career of architecture, which does not always attract young people from disadvantaged backgrounds…
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“We need to be training journalists who come from all walks of life to ensure we have a balanced press that represents every colour and creed in society, and the Daily Mail’s awards will help to ensure that this happens…
“The Daily Mail has consistently supported me and my family in our quest for justice. It is now helping me in continuing with Stephen’s legacy which I hope will be a long and lasting one.”
The Mail also today announced the launch of the Stephen Lawrence Criminal Justice Lecture held in association with the Daily Mail at the law firm Freshfields’ Northcliffe Auditorium in Fleet Street on 20 February.
The speakers will be Mail editor Paul Dacre, former Met Police commissioner Lord Blair of Boughton and former attorney general Baroness Scotland.
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