Errin wins prestigious journalism bursary

The former Garron Tower and Belfast Metropolitan College student was one of three successful recipients to be awarded a bursary following interviews at BBC New Broadcasting House in London on February 1.

Erinn (22) will be studying the NCTJ-accredited foundation in multimedia journalism course at Press Association in Newcastle-upon-Tyne after completing her undergraduate politics degree at Northumbria University. The fund will cover her course fees and provide a monthly contribution to her living and travel expenses.

Erinn had secured a place on the Press Association course, due to begin in August 2013, but was unsure if she could afford the 17-week course without financial assistance.

She said: ““I am delighted to have been chosen by the Journalism Diversity Fund’s panel of judges, and am determined to repay their faith in me by working hard and ultimately succeeding in my goals, as I can now fully focus on my further studies without the added anxiety of financial burden.”

The panel, which included Joseph Harker, assistant comment editor, The Guardian; Colleen Harris, specialist journalist, English Regions, BBC, and Leo Whitlock, editor, The Kentish Gazette, were impressed by Erinn’s enthusiasm and variety of work experience.

Bursaries are awarded four times a year to students in the UK accepted on to an NCTJ-accredited course from socially or ethnically diverse backgrounds.

The schedule for the 2013/14 academic year is now available on the Journalism Diversity Fund website. The application deadline for the first group of bursaries will be Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 5pm.