The NCTJ has selected seven budding reporters to receive training bursaries from its journalism diversity fund.The seven were selected from 69 candidates because of the commitment they had shown gathering work experience at a range of media outlets including BBC, Sky Sports and Al-Jazeera.
They will each have course fees paid for by the fund which was established in 2005 to help those from ethnically and socially diverse backgrounds without the financial means to otherwise attend NCTJ training courses.
The chosen journalists are:
Sharan Bajwa
• Bajwa, 22, will study for a PgDip in Journalism at the Centre for Journalism at De Montfort University
• Currently participating in the Guardian’s Positive Action Scheme
Mark Elliott
• Elliott begins a full time newspaper journalism course at noSWeat in London in September
• Worked at BBC Sport and Sky Sports and had a number of articles published by the Shropshire Star
• Currently the club commentator for Queens Park Rangers Football Club
Glenn McMahon
• McMahon, 36, expects to study fast-track newspaper journalism at Lambeth College
• After 20 years in the lift industry decided to change career, led by a passion for current affairs and politics
• Experience on Al-Jazeera’s English web service
Nicola Roots
• Will study for a Journalism MA at Kingston University
• The panel praised her “enthusiasm and commitment”
Carl Rose
• Intends to study press photography at Norton College, part of Sheffield College
• Became involved in photography after volunteering for a community magazine
• As a freelancer had pictures been published in Independent, the Times, the Express, the Mirror and the Sun
Paul Smith
• Smith, 22, will undertake a Journalism MA at the University of Ulster, Coleraine
• He graduated from the same university with first class honours in Journalism and Psychology in 2008
• Spent time creating video reports about the Milk Cup football tournament for the BBC’s website
Sam Smith
• Will study fast-track newspaper journalism at News Associates in London
• Worked freelance at BBC Sussex and BBC Surrey on the sports show as well as contributing to local magazines
More information about the fund can be found on the NCTj website.
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