The Sun and News Associates launch journalism diversity scheme

The Sun has partnered with News Associates to launch a trainee scheme to increase the diversity of its newsroom.

The Sun journalism diversity scheme
Photo credit: Peter Jordan

For its first intake, The Sun is looking for budding journalists from all walks of life, with or without training or degrees. 

The group will join a journalism bootcamp at News Associates, the UK’s top journalism school, followed by our 40-week part-time NCTJ training course in February. During the course, the trainees will also be working in The Sun newsroom for three days a week.

Each place on the programme is fully funded and trainees will be paid a competitive salary.

The Sun editor-in-chief Tony Gallagher said: “The Sun is Britain’s biggest newsbrand and it is vital we create opportunities for aspiring journalists from every part of society. Increasing diversity in our newsrooms is a challenge for the entire industry, and, as the people’s paper, The Sun should reflect the people.

“If you are a keen and curious aspiring journalist, this trainee scheme will pay a competitive salary while you get the hands-on experience, on-the job mentoring and coaching you need to be newsroom-ready.

“We’re proud to lead the way with this initiative. Good jobs in journalism should be available to all with talent, no matter what their background.  It will be tough, it will be full-on, but it will be fun.”

The Sun is also looking for several NCTJ or similar trained students for its first intake. They will be coached to be newsroom-ready with an intensive journalism bootcamp at News Associates followed by a placement with SWNS news agency at one of its offices in London, Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham, Cambridge or Glasgow.

The trainees, who will receive a competitive salary, will then get 12 months of on-the-job training in The Sun.

The launch is the start of a rolling programme of training by The Sun which will hire more trainees during 2020. 

News Associates managing editor James Toney said: “We are delighted to be working with The Sun on this important journalism diversity scheme to help encourage diversity in journalism and we are excited about discovering new talent.”

You can apply here: https://www.newscareers.co.uk/vacancies/323/journalism-trainee-scheme.html 

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