Bursary Deadline Looms
Monika Plaha
Journalists from ethnic minorities are being urged to “shape the news agenda” and take advantage of funding that provides bursaries to help them with studies and subsistence.
The National Union of Journalists is calling for applicants for its George Viner Fund, which aims to improve the diversity of journalists working in the British and Irish media.
According to a report for the National Council for the Training of Journalism on diversity in the industry, the proportion of editors from non-white ethnic backgrounds is only ten percent compared to 14 percent in junior roles.
In a statement, the NUJ said: “We need black and minority ethnic journalists not just reporting the news, but also shaping the news agenda. If you are interested or know somebody who would benefit from the bursary, the deadline for this year’s applications is Friday 8 July.
Tony Adams Vice-Chair, of NUJ’s Black Members Council, said “ We continue to monitor discrimination in employment practices in the industry, and promote better Black representation both in the news media and NUJ. It recommends the use of the NUJ's guidelines to encourage anti-racist news reporting and promotes donations being made to the union's George Viner Memorial Fund charity, which gives annual grants to prospective Black journalism students”
“George Viner scholars receive much more than financial assistance. They become a part of the NUJ family, are invited to conferences and meetings, and introduced to members from across the media, publishing, and PR, as well as having the support of the trustees throughout their course.
“It’s just been brilliant in helping people from all sorts of backgrounds to really achieve their goals and their dreams of becoming a journalist, and to really share those underrepresented ideas and those underrepresented stories.”
BBC Panorama journalist Monika Plaha (pictured), a previous beneficiary of the scheme, has urged others to apply. She said: “Without the NUJ and without the George Viner scholarship, I really don’t think I would be where I am today.”
More information about the George Viner Fund can be found here.
