Scott Trust Bursary students 2023-24

My first inklings of an interest in journalism came before I knew what it entailed. I read books from writers such as Hunter S. Thompson, but didn’t fully realise that what I was reading was more than just a description of events, but a story pulled from the experiences of not just the writer but also the people they met, spoke to and lived with. Going down that rabbit hole, I realised that a career that would allow me to illuminate the lives of others and their stories is one which I'd give anything to have.

Since then, I have written mainly around sport and arts on a freelance basis, including doing write ups for the Skinny in Scotland. I have also developed my skills in video and audio editing.

The bursary has opened a door for me that I didn’t think I’d have otherwise been able to get through. Aside from just the financial support, which has made my journey with journalism so much easier, the chance to be part of a network of other journalists and writers learning their trade is priceless, as is the chance to attend Manchester Metropolitan and learn at the Guardian offices. Ahead of starting my course, I can’t wait to get stuck into creating media that people can dive into.

I want to work in journalism because it will allow me to accomplish a childhood ambition. I have always been captivated by news in the 'traditional sense' where I watched newsreaders and presenters interview people from all walks of life. While at sixth form, I wrote an article which was published for a history magazine about my family history and their connection to Britain. This experience truly inspired me to pursue journalism in a real and meaningful way.

Subsequently, while at university, my experience working in the third sector as a Civic Leadership Intern illustrated to me the challenges that many vulnerable families in the UK experience. I felt that these complex challenges needed greater amplification in the media. In recent times, I have worked for the communications department at The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK where my key responsibilities included working on the production of the Institute's monthly membership magazine.

The Scott Trust Bursary will provide funding for an MA programme at Leeds Trinity that will enable me to access all the necessary tools needed to work across different platforms in the media. I’m most excited to pursue the six weeks worth of work experience at the Guardian offices and learn the best methods to tell stories in an engaging manner that readers will find informative and useful.

This is a great opportunity to provide those from underrepresented communities the means to obtain the correct qualifications needed for a career in media.

I have always wanted to uplift the voices of those less represented. I grew up in rural northeast Scotland. Lots happened, but, no matter how important, I never read about it in the newspaper. There was nobody to tell our stories; we were left behind. The news should represent everyone, and I felt I could use my skillset to make this happen.

I have been writing long before deciding to train as a journalist, even keeping a blog while working in the construction industry in my teens. My first introduction to a newsroom was shadowing the feature writing team at DC Thomson while I went back into education. I later became their book reviewer. Since then, I have volunteered for hospital radio (where I learnt to drive an original radio desk with a record player!) and presented regional radio news. I then worked at Edinburgh Live. I have also worked with the Centre of Investigative Journalism through the Lyra McKee scheme.

Diversity in the media is incredibly important, particularly on a national platform. The UK media does not often prioritise stories from regional and marginalised communities. The Scott Trust Bursary allows for fresh perspectives. This scheme will elevate my career in ways I have found impossible to do, it opens a door to a notoriously closed industry.

The MA at Goldsmiths will give me the opportunity to develop my investigative, political and news writing skills with industry experts as mentors. I am particularly excited to be able to hone these skills in the prestigious, national newsroom at the Guardian.

I have always been a passionate storyteller, originally finding my voice through performance poetry, which I used to highlight issues I cared about. A career in journalism will allow me to combine my passions for storytelling, truth and justice, providing me a platform to expose the stories of groups unrepresented in media.

Whilst studying for my undergraduate degree in History at University College London, I wrote for Blueprint magazine, a cross-university publication dedicated to student mental health. In 2022, I moved to Colombia for a year where I began writing a travel blog on the countries culture and history. Interviewing locals and community organisations gave me access to stories that are often overshadowed in the media, from vibrant music scenes on the Caribbean coast to fresh perspectives on the country’s history and social issues.

Despite this, due to financial barriers, I have always struggled to see journalism as a serious career for myself, so being awarded the Scott Trust Bursary is a dream come true. The bursary will help equip me with the skills needed to produce highly impactful journalism that will make a real difference to the world.

As part of the MA at Birmingham City, I am looking forward to building my data journalism skills, including learning how to apply coding to research, analysis and storytelling. The University's ties with media outlets in Spain and South America will give me the opportunity to apply these skills in foreign investigations, where I would ultimately like to specialise in the future. I am also excited to gain practical experience with the Guardian, learning the operation of their newsroom and developing my feature writing and interview skills.

I've pretty much always wanted to be a journalist. Growing up in post-Good Friday Agreement Northern Ireland may have been relatively peaceable, but it was impossible not to be politically engaged. People like the late Henry McDonald at the Guardian and Allison Morris at the Irish News – Northern Irish people telling Northern Irish stories – are what made me think it was a possible career path for me. I grew up witnessing the disadvantages that decades of tribal politics and sectarian violence have inflicted on ordinary people, and it's those stories that I'm most determined to tell.

I worked at my local paper one day a week during my last year at college and managed to secure a place studying fashion journalism at Central Saint Martins as an undergraduate. I interned at lots of different publications during my placement year and worked as a freelancer for lifestyle publications including Marie Claire UK and woman&home for a couple of years after graduating in 2020. I've worked at architecture and design magazine Dezeen for almost two years now, most recently as the social media editor.

Receiving the Scott Trust Bursary is life-changing for me. I'm acutely aware of the skills gap between where my career currently is and where I'd like it to be, but studying for an MA wouldn't have been remotely possible without the financial backing of the bursary.

I'm most excited about having the time and headspace to learn new skills and become a better journalist. Coming from a working-class background and working in the media has so far felt like a bit of a stumble in the dark, so I'm also really looking forward to having the guidance of a mentor who's done it all before.

Inspired by my diverse work experiences and a lifelong passion for news, I want to be a part of making journalism more inclusive. After university, working extensively in education and construction exposed me to systemic issues and societal indifference facing marginalised communities. I want to amplify underrepresented voices through journalism, and help diversify the media conversation through my own experiences and background.

Embarking on a career change, I sought newsroom experience whilst working full time in the trades. At my local newspaper Southwark News, the first feature I wrote made front page news. I gained more bylines freelancing with the Daily Star and interning at the Royal Television Society, desperate to break into full time journalism.

The Scott Trust Bursary will enable me to do that. Alongside paying my rent and living costs, I wouldn’t be able to afford a Masters degree. To be a part of this programme is a life changing opportunity. Combining top level educational and professional journalism training will give me the best possible footing to write the conscious, impactful reportage that the media landscape often fails to deliver.

I can’t wait to get started. I want to write responsive and investigative news with focuses on sports, the human impacts of government policy, housing and inequality. I’m incredibly excited to learn the mechanics of these stories at City University, and enhance my studies with hands on experience across different desks in the Guardian newsroom.