Journalism is not an easy industry to break into, and starting out as a young journalist might seem overwhelming. From free workshops and podcasts to get you up to scratch on your industry knowledge, to regular newsletters and work experience opportunities, Empoword has compiled a non-exhaustive list of journalism resources to help you navigate and access the sector.

Workshops

Empoword Journalism Workshops

Empoword Journalism hosts regular workshops via Zoom and Facebook Live to connect with a range of people in the media industry. Previous guests include: Laura Kuenssberg, Victoria Derbyshire and Huw Edwards.

You can find recordings of previous workshops here. You can find write-ups about our previous workshops here. Sign up to our mailing list to stay informed about future workshops.

News Associates

News Associates have been hosting a whole host of free, hands-on online workshops to give you a glimpse into the industry and their award-winning NCTJ training. Empoword Journalism was set up after we attended one they hosted with Kay Burley!

Upcoming workshops include a Q&A with The Times political reporter Geri Scott and The Guardian political correspondent Aubrey Allegretti. They also host regular News journalism workshops. You can find out more information and sign up for their free journalism workshops here.

National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ)

The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) compiled a series of masterclasses with top journalists for their online summer school 2022, designed to provide an introduction to journalism for beginners. Their video masterclasses cover topics including newsgathering, fact checking, interviewing skills, media law, sports journalism and broadcasting.

Women in Journalism

Women in Journalism offer guidance and support for women working in print, broadcast and online around the UK and overseas,  at every stage of their careers.

Their team have hosted some helpful workshops and Q&As on navigating the industry as a woman, as well as networking, personal branding and interview skills that can be accessed here. They have also hosted a series of workshops for early career journalists alongside Journo Resources which can be found here.

Presspad

PressPad is an award-winning social enterprise that is fighting to lower the financial barrier of entry into journalism. In previous years, they have hosted a series of workshops, masterclasses and Q&As with industry professionals covering topics including working in radio, how to get into sports journalism, writing for trade publications and how to make the most of student journalism.

Presspad’s upcoming events can be viewed here.

Journo Resources

Journo Resources holds practical masterclasses and events, both online and in person, with the aim of giving as many people as possible access to hands-on-advice from professionals across the industry. They hold two to three digital sessions monthly.

You can find more information here and purchase tickets for their upcoming events here.

So You Want To Be a Journalist

Chandni Sembhi of So You Want To Be a Journalist provides award-winning tips and tricks for breaking into and progressing in the media industry.

Check out her previous masterclasses here.

Work Experience and Placements

You’ll have heard time and time again from school careers advisers, blogs, workshops, podcasts, job adverts, etc. that getting experience is absolutely essential—and who doesn’t love updating their CV? But getting that experience is much easier said than done.

It’s pretty frustrating, especially when so many ‘entry level’ media jobs require you to have had lots of experience under your belt before they’ll even consider you.

If this is the boat you currently find yourself in, don’t worry—we’ve got your back. Our Journalism Hub Editor also posts job opportunities in our Contributors Group every week!

The Times Digital Work Experience

The work experience scheme with The Times and Sunday Times digital team offers successful applicants the opportunity to spend 1-2 weeks inside their busy newsrooms working in the areas of data journalism and news development. They offer work experience in two areas of digital news: with the Data and digital storytelling team and the Audience development team. Find out more information here.

The Telegraph Newsroom Work Experience

In partnership with the Journalism Diversity Fund, The Telegraph offer ten two-week placements over the course of the summer, which will give successful applicants the opportunity to gain newsroom experience. The scheme is offered to students over the age of 18 from diverse backgrounds. You can find the latest early career opportunities here.

The Guardian Editorial Work Experience and Positive Action Scheme

The Guardian offers work experience placements, usually lasting one to two weeks, once a year for early career journalists over the age of 18. Opportunities are advertised here.

They also run two work-experience schemes each summer for those considering a career in journalism: one for people from BAME backgrounds; and one for people with disabilities. Up to 12 placements in total are offered and each lasts two weeks. Applications for the Positive Action Scheme open here.

For more tips on how to make the most of your work experience while you’re there, check out this video!

Youth Journalism International

If you are 19 or younger, you can apply to be a student at Youth Journalism International. Its mission is to connect teen writers, artists and photographers with their peers around the globe, teach journalism, foster cross-cultural understanding and promote and defend a free youth press. There is no cost to join.

If you’re interested in joining Youth Journalism International, you can apply here.

Courses

Journalism related courses are helpful for new writers as well as established ones to learn new skills and techniques and build on their journalistic knowledge.

Courses can give an insight into the industry and provide valuable tips and advice, which may be helpful for anyone about to start a placement or work experience.

Al Jazeera Media Institute

  • Al Jazeera Media Institute are currently offering a range of courses covering many different areas of the Journalism sector including Mobile Journalism, TV Programme Editing and Writing for TV. With 15 courses on offer in total, there is something for everyone. Courses offered by Al Jazeera are free to enrol on, with the option to pay an additional QAR100 to receive a verified certificate upon completing the course. You can learn more and access the courses here.

Journalism.co.uk

  • Journalism.co.uk provides a range of online media training courses for journalists, editors, web managers, PRs and communication professionals. They are currently offering journalism, media and multimedia courses which focus on many areas of the Journalism sector, including multimedia, digital skills and freelancing, with 14 courses available. More information and booking details can be found here.

The Guardian

  • The Guardian offer regular Journalism courses and masterclasses designed to help you break into the industry and gain insight into the Journalism world, covering topics such as Investigative Journalism and Long-form Journalism. You can find the schedule for upcoming courses with The Guardian here.

Journalism Job Boards

Newsletters

  • Empoword Journalism has our very own newsletter! You can sign up here.
  • Media Beans has your job hunt covered, sending 20+ new jobs in media to your inbox every Monday.
  • Journo Resources provides a weekly newsletter with the latest jobs, ranging from entry-level jobs to freelance gigs, as well as grants, awards and learning opportunities for journalists.
  • Inside the Newsroom is a biweekly newsletter that claims to be the largest curated journalism job board in the world.
  • Young Journalist Community has a weekly newsletter allowing journalists under 30 to submit and showcase their own work.
  • The Peak District newsletter highlights industry opportunities outside of London.
  • Press Gazette will keep you updated on all the need-to-know happenings in the media industry.
  • The Freelance Fraud is a myth-busting newsletter by multimedia journalist Diyora Shadijanova aiming to make the media space less intimidating and ease the freelancing anxieties of young journalists.
  • Freelance Writing Jobs list weekly links to UK-based paying freelance and part-time writing jobs, and details of editors actively seeking pitches, compiled by Sian-Meades Williams.

Awards

Young Audio Awards

A free-to-enter award for young people entering the radio industry. Supported by both commercial and BBC radio, you will have the chance to take on some great opportunities, including hosting your own radio show on a national level. Find out more here.

SRA Student Radio Awards

Student Radio Awards for those involved with an SRA-affiliated station.

International News Media Association 30 Under 30s

INMA aims to find 30 rising stars in news media with early career achievements. Winners receive global recognition in a virtual announcement, a certificate of recognition, a social media badge, free access to two INMA virtual masterclasses and a 12-month membership in INMA. Find out more here.

National Geographic Travel Writing Competition

Applicants must write 500 words on a standout travel experience for the chance to get published in NatGeo. Find out more here.

The British Journalism Awards Marie Colvin Award

The Marie Colvin Award is awarded to a “future Marie Colvin in the making” who raises the reputation of journalism.

NCTJ Awards for Excellence

Open to community reporters, as well as trainees and students on an NCTJ course. Find out more about the awards here.

New Media Writing Prize Awards

Winners receive prizes of between £500-£1,000 for the best digital storytelling. Find out more here.

Student Publication Association Awards

The SPA’s annual regional and national awards for members of a student publication in the UK or Ireland. Find out more about their competitions here.

Amnesty Media Awards

Amnesty Awards are open to UK journalists across various mediums, and celebrate excellence in human rights journalism.

The Guardian‘s Hugo Young Awards (Category 16 – 18)

The Hugo Young Award is a political opinion writing competition, created in memory of Hugo Young, a political columnist at the Guardian for almost 20 years. If you’re aged 16-25 in the UK, this could be your chance to showcase your talent in political journalism.

The Day‘s Global Young Journalist Awards

The Global Young Journalist Awards is an accessible youth journalism competition that allows young people to tell their story about an issue that matters to them, in a medium of their choice.

Mentoring and Training Schemes

John Schofield Trust Sixth Form Mentoring

Online mentoring by the John Schofield Trust for 16-18-year-olds interested in working in broadcast journalism.

John Schofield Trust Early Career Journalist Mentoring Scheme

Mentoring by the John Schofield Trust for news journalists in the first five years of their career, you’ll be matched with a senior journalist for 12 months.

Global Girl Media UK Mentorship Programme

An annual intensive 3-week Summer Academy for women aged 18 – 22. You will receive tailor-made mentorship in digital journalism as well as three days a week worth of training. Find out more here.

The Women in Journalism Mentoring Scheme

The WIJ mentoring scheme matches established female journalists with other women journalists in need of personal, one-to-one advice over a period of one year. Find out more here.

The Multitrack Fellowship

Multitrack partners with the country’s leading audio production companies to offer paid work placements, training and networking opportunities, and the chance to pitch for real commissions in the radio and podcast industry. Find out more here.

Tortoise Journalism School

Successful applicants will have the opportunity to pitch and write stories for Tortoise, take part in editorial meetings and public discussions and see how their journalists work. It is free to attend, meals are provided and accommodation is available to successful applicants outside of London. Find out more here.

CIJ Lyra McKee Bursary Scheme

The aim of this five-month bursary scheme is to train and mentor people from underprivileged backgrounds, who aspire to become journalists or who are at the very early stages of their journalism career. The Bursary Scheme incorporates training at #CIJSummer Conference 2023 and online as well as a mentoring programme with regular meetings. Find out more here.

Funding and Grants

The Guardian Scott Trust Bursary

The Guardian provides six bursaries for a postgraduate qualification in journalism. The aim of the awards is to assist students who face financial difficulty in attaining the qualifications needed to pursue a career in journalism, and who come from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the media. In particular those from a lower socio-economic background, Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and those with a disability. You can find more information here.

NCTJ Journalism Diversity Fund

The Journalism Diversity Fund (JDF) awards bursaries to people from diverse backgrounds who need help funding their NCTJ journalism training. Journalism Diversity Fund bursaries can help cover the costs of NCTJ course fees and/or living expenses. Recipients will also be paired with a working journalist to mentor them throughout their studies. Find out more here.

Journalist’s Charity First Jobs Fund

A fund for new journalists struggling with start-up costs, such as accommodation, moving home, transport and essential work-related equipment. You’ll either be working full-time in journalism or about to start a new job with a firm offer of employment. Find out more here.

The Stationers Charity Postgraduate Award

The Stationers’ Foundation bursary programme provides financial and mentoring support for young people on a wide variety of MA/MSc courses leading to a career in the Content and Communications industries. Find out more here.

The Dan Walker Journalism Scholarship

The Department of Journalism Studies at the University of Sheffield offers two Scholarships worth £10,000 each for home fee paying students starting a taught postgraduate course in MA Broadcast Journalism in 2023, alongside mentorship from Dan Walker. Applicants must meet widening participation criteria. Find out more here.

Social Media and Networking

Podcasts

Podcasts are a great accessible tool to help you navigate the world of Journalism. They can cover a range of topics, from the latest media news, research, knowledge and journalistic tips to career advice and insights into the industry. The audible information tends to be easy to ingest and is great for learning on the go!

Resources for Freelancers

Journo Resources

  • For those wanting to break into freelancing, Journo Resources has put together a comprehensive list of freelance rates here.
  • Their jobs board collates the very best jobs in the industry across all levels.
  • They also have a Facebook group you can join to connect with other like-minded journalists who are breaking into the industry.

Pitching

  • Don’t know where to pitch as a young journalist? News Associates has you covered with a guide to the best places to pitch freelance articles if you’re starting out in your journalism career.
  • This pitching masterlist from @pitchestoriches collates publications that accept pitches from freelancers and how you can contact them.
  • Need help keeping track of all the articles you’ve pitched? There’s a template here, made by the wonderful Rachael Davies.
  • PressPad and YJC have created a Successful Pitches Bank, home to successful pitches to paying outlets.

Toolkits and Guidelines

Below is a list of trusted toolkits to ensure responsible and accurate reporting.

Language, Please is a fantastic free resource for writers seeking to use language thoughtfully when covering evolving social, cultural, and identity-related topics.

Where are we mentioned in the press?

So glad you asked! Emma McAndrew recently covered Empoword‘s role in kickstarting early careers in the journalism industry here.

One of the founding members of Empoword Journalism, Orla, was interviewed here, and Isabelle spoke to Generation Tribe here.

Our efforts to help young women get into journalism were acknowledged here.