The Journalism Diversity Fund (JDF) was set up by the newspaper industry in 2005 to support the training of journalists from ethnically and socially diverse backgrounds. NLA media access is the JDF’s biggest supporter, and has been donating to it since its launch. Since its creation nearly 10 years ago, the JDF has provided bursaries for 176 aspiring journalists. In 2014 the fund supported 15 students from diverse backgrounds who would not otherwise have had the financial means to support themselves on a NCTJ-accredited course.
Last year NLA media access donated £100,000 to the fund, bringing its total support for the bursary scheme to £981k since it launched in 2005. Encouraging new talent from a range of backgrounds is vital to the future of the publishing industry, but difficult economic circumstances can put off talented young applicants who cannot afford course fees. Earlier this year Guardian leader writer and columnist Hugh Muir wrote a piece about his positive experience of the work of JDF and the challenges that remain for the industry here.
This year we have also heard from one of the former bursary recipients who is well on the way to becoming a stellar reporter thanks to the support of the JDF, recently moving from a regional publisher to work for BBC online.
Sophie Mai-Lan
"I had always wanted to work in the media but I assumed journalism wasn't an industry for people from my background. It was a distant dream to be able to afford actual training in journalism which is what I needed to get
my foot properly in the door. I started freelancing with no training: just a pure drive for stories. I won a few awards for my digital reporting but paid work was difficult to secure. Not to mention the fact I was pregnant with my first child, so I was slowly giving up on ever getting a job in journalism.
Thankfully, once I had my baby I read about the Journalism Diversity Fund via the NCTJ’s website and I knew I had to apply. With their help I was able to study for a post-graduate diploma and NCTJ diploma in journalism at the University of Salford. During my studies I won a scoop of the year award at the NCTJ Awards for Excellence, I was runner-up and shortlisted for two Guardian Student Media Awards and shortlisted for an IRN national commercial radio award.
I was then able to get my first job covering titles at Johnston Press Yorkshire. I also freelanced for the Mirror Online and Bauer Radio. Finally I landed my dream job at the BBC, where I am today working on national current affairs output. If it hadn't have been for the support and funding of the JDF I know I wouldn't have been able to train and afford to continue pursuing a job in the industry.
It is vital that our newsrooms are diverse because the more perspectives we have, the better journalists we are. And, as I work across BBC online, The One Show and national radio, I know how important it is to strive to get the best content and most relevant stories to serve all of our audiences.
We are seeing great changes, but there's still a way to go. But at least thanks to the JDF and NLA newsrooms are becoming more diverse."