BBC launches 2004’s News Sponsorship Scheme

The BBC has launched its News Sponsorship Scheme for 2004.
The scheme, now in its fifth year, awards 14 students on Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) accredited courses full funding for their postgraduate diplomas in broadcast journalism, plus bursaries to help with living expenses during their course. Each student is also allocated a senior BBC journalist as a mentor, and is offered up to five weeks paid work experience and training in an area of network news.
The aim of the BBC News Sponsorship Scheme is to attract new and diverse talent into BBC News around the UK, while enabling students to fund their postgraduate course at a time when higher education is becoming increasingly expensive.
"News programmes serve every community across the UK, so it's important that we recruit widely to make sure our trainees and staff reflect a wide range of backgrounds and experience,” said Richard Sambrook, BBC’s director of news.
Ben Thompson is one of last year’s successful applicants, and is doing a postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism at Cardiff University. Following a recent job interview, he has also just been offered a contract working as a broadcast journalist in the Business and Economics Unit of BBC News. “In this industry, many say who you know is more important than what you know, and the News Sponsorship scheme certainly helps with both,” said Ben.
“Throughout the year, we’ve had training sessions covering most aspects of radio and television news – and the Q&A sessions with leading players in the BBC are a brilliant way to see how other people made it.
“The placements are your opportunity to get inside the BBC and get a hands-on look at how it all works. And, you’re treated as a member of staff, not a tea boy. My mentor has helped me focus on exactly what I wanted to do and discuss my options.
“The Sponsorship Scheme opens doors. It’s your licence to get inside the BBC and make your own luck. Be nosy, ask questions and meet people – surely what journalism is all about.”
(GB)