Helping to fulfil the dreams of aspiring journalists

A further seven people are to receive financial help towards their journalism training after a panel of industry experts awarded them bursaries from the Journalism Diversity Fund.
The fund received 46 applications for this round and those successful at the final stage could have their course and examination fees paid for and receive help with living expenses and travel.

Interviews will take place at the Guardian on 10 June. The interview panel will comprise of industry experts including: Dotun Adebayo, BBC Radio 5 presenter; Paul Durrant, freelance journalist and trainer; Marcus Ryder, current affairs editor, BBC Scotland; and Bryony Gordon, feature writer and columnist at the Telegraph.

Melissa Allison-Forbes, Journalism Diversity Intern, said of the applications: “We received some really good applications this round. Many applicants showed a great passion for journalism and showed commitment with the amount of work experience they had. I wish them all the best at the interview stage.”

Melissa, who started working for the fund at the beginning of May, was awarded a bursary by the Journalism Diversity Fund in 2007 to finance her journalism training at Kingston University. Melissa achieved the MA Journalism and the NCTJ certificate in Journalism in 2008 and has since gained work experience at the Daily Mirror online and Fabulous magazine. In 2009 she co-founded Krystal magazine: an online publication aimed at young black women in the UK.

Since its launch in 2005 the Journalism Diversity Fund has helped fund 98 people through their journalism training.

Editors and senior journalists are needed to shortlist applications and help interview bursary applicants. If you would like to help young people from diverse backgrounds start a career in journalism, please contact Melissa Allison-Forbes on melissa.allison-forbes@nctj.com