Bursaries available for aspiring journalists

Aspiring journalists with a passion for telling a good story, relish deadlines and have a desire to report on the issues which reflect their communities are being encouraged to apply for bursaries from the Journalism Diversity Fund.

The fund offers bursaries to people from socially and ethnically diverse backgrounds who have applied for a place on an NCTJ-accredited journalism course. This is a great opportunity as editors recognise the importance of journalists reporting the news reflecting the communities they serve to deliver unbiased and accurate reporting. With the JDF, you could be that journalist.

Applications for the third group of bursaries this year are open, with individuals needing to demonstrate a genuine commitment to journalism and the potential to be successful.

The NCTJ courses are designed to provide students with practical skill training that can prove vital in the quest to find employment in the industry.

Successful candidates who apply for the bursaries could have the costs of their course and examination fees paid for as well as getting a head start in one of the most exciting, but demanding careers around.

The JDF was is an industry fund which was set up in 2005 with the help of the Newspaper Licensing Agency in association with leading publishing companies including Associated Newspapers, the Guardian News and Media Group, News International and Pearson.

Deadline for application is October 21.

For more information on the JDF visit www.journalismdiversityfund.com. A list of NCTJ accredited journalism courses is available at www.nctj.com.