JOURNALISM: FUNDED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES – FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2022

The Centre for Investigative Journalism runs a range of courses on using data to create stories and investigative journalism. Full details on the CiJ website.  Members can claim 10% off all courses. Email: info@tcij.org  put NUJ discount and name of the course in the subject field.

Do you want to learn how to use the Freedom of Information Act? Are you already using the Act, but want to know more about how key provisions are being interpreted? This online Campaign for Freedom of Information course on Thursday 31 March, 10.00-16.30 will show you how to make effective FOI requests. More information and how to book, on the CFOI website.

TUC Education is the one-stop-shop for training and resources for reps and activists.

The industry body ScreenSkills has a range of masterclasses, online courses and resources for creative and media freelances and information on mentoring, bursaries and funding.

Happy LGBT+ History Month

Apologies for the late notice but this month’s LGBT+ network meeting is at 6pm-7pm on Monday 21 February. Unfortunately, our special speaker has had to pull out, but we thought we may as well get together to catch up with what everyone has been up to, maybe discuss motions at the forthcoming TUC LGBT+ conference and do a bit of planning for future network events.

Natasha Hirst, chair of the NUJ’s Equality Council.

The NUJ’s LGBT+ network provides a safe space where members can call on each other for advice, forge friendships and alliances and propose collective action.  It aims to recruit and encourage LGBT+ media, publishing and PR workers to be active in the union.

Prizes & bursaries

The Orwell Society/NUJ Young Journalists’ Award 2022
Are you a young journalist, full-time resident in the UK, studying for a journalism qualification or starting out on your journalism career? If so, you are eligible for the awards which offer cash prizes of up to £1,500. The deadline for submissions is Friday 8 April. Find out more on the awards website.

The Private Eye Paul Foot Award, set up in memory of  the renowned journalist who died in 2004, honours the UK’s most talented journalists working in the fields of investigative and campaigning journalism. The deadline for entries is Thursday 31 March, 13.00pm. The winning entry will be awarded £5,000 on Tuesday 14 June. Find out more on the Private Eye website.

Lyra McKee bursary scheme 
The Centre for Investigate Journalism’s scheme, in memory of the Irish investigative journalist Lyra McKee, pictured above,  who was shot dead by dissident republicans in Derry in April 2019, is a five-month bursary to train and mentor people from underprivileged backgrounds, who aspire to become journalists or who are at the early stages of their journalism career. The deadline for applications is Sunday 10 April, 23.59 and the programme starts Monday 23 May. Find out more on the CiJ website.

Newsquest members

Members who work for Newsquest are asked to take part in a group-wide survey.  After the past two difficult years the NUJ wants to hear your concerns. The survey is anonymous and for NUJ members but if there are other colleagues who are interested in taking part in good faith, forward on the link for them to complete the survey. The deadline is Friday 25 February.

NUJ Rate for the Job

How does a freelance journalist, especially one starting out, know what to charge? To help, the NUJ issues a Freelance Fees Guide. Getting up-to-date data requires members (in confidence) submitting the rates they get for shifts, l

I am pleased to advise that I have secured extra funding to enable us to run further Zoom courses this project year at no cost to NUJ Scottish members.  These courses are as follows: