Women in Journalism reveals mentor pairings to help more females get to the top in journalism

Networking group Women in Journalism announced its first ever mentor pairings yesterday at London’s Dukes Hotel with the aim to “help women at the start of their careers, women returning to work after a break, or just those who want to make the step up to more senior roles.”

The scheme, devised by editor of Channel 5 News, Cristina Nicolotti Squires, aims to help more women get to the top at journalism. A study by City University Professor, Suzanne Franks, found that whilst women are in the majority on journalism trainee courses and at entry-level, fewer women than men are likely to reach more senior positions.

Women In Journalism’s deputy chair and deputy editor of the New Statesman, Helen Lewis, said yesterday: "We’re really lucky to have more women now in senior roles in journalism, but there’s still a long way to go and its fantastic to see that some of our most senior women journalists – including two national newspaper editors – giving up their time to help the next generation.”

The mentor pairings are as follows:

Becky Barrow (money editor, Sunday Times) , Elaine Moore (FT)
Louise Court (director of editorial Strategy and content, Hearst) , Sophie Hines (digital editor, Good Housekeeping)
Alison Philips (weeken editor, the Mirror), Suzanne Beishon (deputy sports editor, Morning Star)
Helen Lewis (deputy editor, New Statesman), Fiona Rutherford (junior reporter, Buzzfeed)
Sue Matthias (senior editor, Financial Times), Jessica Shankleman (deputy editor, BusinessGreen)
Eleanor Mills (editorial director, Sunday Times), Ellie Austin (assistant features editor, Radio Times)
Jane Martinson (head of media, Guardian), Jo Shelley (producer, Amanpour, CNN)
Eve Pollard OBE (former editor of multiple national publications), Kate Mansey (features editor, Mail on Sunday)
Lisa Markwell (editor, The Independent on Sunday) , Juliet Eysenck (content editor, Telegraph Digital)
Sarah Baxter (deputy editor, Sunday Times), Alix O’Neill (freelance)
Sue Ryan (journalist and founder of Henley Literary Festival), Ploy Radford (editor, HealthInvestor magazine)

Women in Journalism has just started taking applications for their inaugural Georgina Henry Award for Innovation, which offers aspiring and established female journalists the opportunity to pursue the journalistic project of their choice, with the help of £4000 from sponsors, Wiggin LLP. Last year’s winner of the award was founder of The Everyday Sexism project, Laura Bates.

The closing date for applications is 1 February 2016.