Press Association launches new bursary scheme supported by the Journalism Diversity Fund

Press Association (PA), the UK’s leading multimedia news agency and digital content provider, has launched a bursary scheme to encourage more minority ethnic journalists to join its newsroom.
Successful applicants will get a place on PA’s National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ)-accredited training course in London and on successful completion of that course, will then be offered a two-year training contract with the agency.

PA is working in partnership on the scheme with the Journalism Diversity Fund. The programme is open to all aspiring journalists from economically disadvantaged, black and Asian minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. Successful candidates will be offered roles in either PA’s newsroom or in PA sport.

The fees for the training course will be paid by PA and candidates will receive a bursary to cover their living expenses while they are studying. PA have also made a donation to the Journalism Diversity Fund.

Clive Marshall, chief executive of PA, said: “We hope this scheme will enable more journalists from diverse and economically disadvantaged backgrounds to come and work at PA. We recognise that certain groups are under-represented within the media and as an industry we must do more to ensure our newsrooms better reflect the wider communities we serve.”

Joanne Butcher, chief executive of the NCTJ added: “We are delighted that PA is joining us in the Journalism Diversity Fund’s mission to enable more people from ethnically and socially diverse backgrounds to train as journalists. Our aim is to ensure diversity and change is at the top of the newsroom agenda and we are thrilled that an institution like PA, which has been reporting news for the last 147 years, will help more budding journalists to have one of the most exciting and rewarding careers around.”

Applicants who will be considered must be from a minority ethnic group and must be able to prove financial disadvantage would make it difficult for them to enter the profession. Preferably, candidates will be a university graduate or can prove relevant solid work experience. All candidates must have permanent right of residence in the United Kingdom.

The scheme is open for applications until  and interviews will start in May. For additional information and criteria please click here.