What impact has the Scott Trust Bursary had on you?
Receiving the Scott Trust Bursary essentially put my career in acceleration mode. After graduating, I was preparing to spend several years working office or retail jobs, freelancing on the side, saving up to get the right qualifications, before I could actually become a journalist.
Thanks to the Bursary, I did not have to put my career on hold. It gave me the opportunity to jump straight into doing the work that I wanted.
How do you think the Bursary addresses the lack of diversity in newsrooms?
About 91% of journalists are white and 67% come from middle or upper class backgrounds, according to the National Council for the Training of Journalists. Tighter budgets and a wider social backlash against diversity has resulted in a risk-averse atmosphere, where established media outlets don’t take the leap to invest in new, more diverse talent.
The bursary tackles this issue by investing time, attention and money into new journalists from underrepresented backgrounds. The training we receive in our first year gives us a wide range of skills that make us adaptable and employable to a variety of newsrooms, such as data analysis, video editing, and podcasting. Then, the second year allows us to learn directly from writers and editors, learn to tell stories across different platforms, and develop our interests and future beats.
Bringing new perspectives into journalism improves the way we all approach our work. It creates an environment where we all constantly review our own preconceptions and those in previous reporting, helping us better fulfil journalistic values like impartiality, fairness and accuracy while informing a wider range of readers.
What's your advice to aspiring journalists?
Be audacious. Don’t let fear or embarrassment stop you from sending an interview request or pitching to an editor. Rejection is a part of the job, and helps sharpen your instincts for what makes a good story.
It might feel a bit nerdy, but spend some time learning the anatomy of a news story. Sit down with a single news article, and pick it apart. Note down the sources of information or data, who the reporter spoke to, and how the story is structured. You’ll soon build up a sense of how to report on a story yourself.
Reach out to journalists you admire, and ask to speak to them about their career journey or even a particular story you liked. You’ll be surprised how many will say yes!
Applications for the Scott Trust Bursary usually open early in the calendar year and close in March. Find out more here.
