News of the World scholarship
The News of the World is delighted to announce its 2008 Graduate Scholarship in journalism.
If
you’ve always wanted to train and work on a newspaper at the highest
level, this is your chance. The winner of our scholarship will receive
the most comprehensive training in our industry.
Students from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
All
we ask is that you have a university degree (or equivalent
qualification) or be in the final year of a degree course. Of course,
you must also be able to demonstrate a passion for the News of the
World.
Our scholarship, run in
conjunction with The Journalism Centre at Harlow College in Essex,
lasts for two years during which our successful candidate will receive
a salary. The News of the World will also pay tuition fees at Harlow
College.
This is how the two years will be broken up:
September 2008 - Feb 2009
Our
successful applicant will attend the 19-week postgraduate course at
Harlow College’s Journalism Centre. This is an intensive,
all-encompassing course providing a solid foundation on which to build
and develop your journalistic talents. During the course you’ll spend
all your available free time (apart from your holiday entitlement) at
the News of the World. Working in various departments, you’ll cover
everything from a Premiership match to major political and showbiz
stories.
Feb 2009 - September 2010
You’ll
gain experience of every relevant department in the News of the World.
Apart from working on our news, features, picture and sports desks –
plus Sunday magazine and our website – you will look at the work of our
circulation, marketing, production and advertising departments. You may
also spend time at the News of the World’s Scottish or Irish offices.
How Do I Apply?
Applications must be typewritten and submitted by post. They must also include the following:
•A full CV
•An explanation of why the News of the World should choose you, in not more than 100 words.
•Your three favourite News of the World front pages and a 50-word comment on each.
•Details/examples of any newspaper/magazine/website work experience.
Applications
should be sent to: Paul Nicholas, Deputy Managing Editor, News of the
World Scholarship, News of the World, 1 Virginia Street, London E98 1NW
All applications must be received no later than Friday, May 23, 2008
FAQs
What sort of work experience do we expect?
While
this scholarship is not aimed at people who already have a full-time
job in our industry, those candidates we choose for interview MUST be
able to demonstrate a history of involvement in NEWSPAPER journalism.
This
is likely to be work experience with your local weekly, evening or
daily newspaper - and not just contributions to websites or specialist
magazines.
That said, at the
News of the World we take our online edition extremely seriously, so
additional experience in digital media is also welcomed.
It
would also be a distinct advantage if your CV and cuttings can also
show a commitment to newspaper work outside what we call your 'comfort
zone' - that is, on a newspaper which is not in your home area.
Do I need to be an expert on the News of the World?
We accept that while most people read us on a Sunday, there may still be a few misguided souls who don't.
Clearly, though, if you're going to apply for a scholarship with us
you'd be mad not to understand what makes us so passionate about great
tabloid journalism. And, of course, if you get an interview you can
expect us to be asking you about the paper.
I'm not sure I can make the application deadline. Can I have an extension?
In
a word, no. Deadlines matter. Producing great journalism in tight time
constraints is part of our lives - and if you're our next graduate
trainee it will be part of yours too.
What happens after you receive the applications? Will I know what happens to mine?
Everyone,
without exception, gets a reply. From the applications we receive, we
will choose a number for interview. These interviews are likely to take
place in June 2008 with the successful applicant notified very soon
after interview.
If I'm successful, what happens then?
Between
interview and the start of the Harlow course in September 2008, we
expect you to engage in at least a fortnight's work experience with a
mainstream UK daily or evening regional newspaper outside your comfort
zone.
We hope you'll have enough acumen to arrange your own work experience.
What sort of work will I be doing at the News of the World?
Proper
journalism. We certainly won't get you making the coffee or doing the
photocopying. From day one, you'll be contributing to the paper, doing
everything you can - with our help - to get great bylined stories in
print and on our website.
You'll be
working alongside some of the greatest names in tabloid journalism -
people who are just as excited by our graduate scheme as you are. So
far, all of our previous graduate trainees have managed front-page
bylines during their traineeship.
What sort of holidays do I get?
Holidays? You want holidays? Fair enough. Our graduate trainees get six weeks' paid holiday a year September to September.
Your first break from the Harlow course will be in late October/early
November 2008 when you will have a week away from college. During this
week you will work on the News of the World. Your next time away from
Harlow will be at Christmas 2008 when you will have a fortnight away
from the course.
You'll spend one week at the NoW and have one week's well-deserved
holiday out of your six weeks' entitlement. After your final exams at
the end of January 2009 (which we naturally expect you to pass well!)
you will be working full-time on the News of the World until September
2010.
What if I have any more queries?
