Britain needs more great science writers – particularly from backgrounds which have been traditionally under-represented in the media.
To address this, the New Statesman and Wellcome Trust, in partnership with Creative Access, have come together to offer three placements to student or graduates from an ethnic minority background*.
The first placement will last six months, starting in the summer (the exact date is flexible). This year, we are also offering two four-week placements, to be taken at any time before April 2017. We hope this combination allows the greatest range of applicants, including current undergraduates and recent graduates.
Over the course of the placements, the successful applicants will:
- Work alongside the New Statesman web and magazine team, learning about the editorial and production process, and how articles are conceived, written, edited and laid out;
- Undertake a data-driven journalism research project on a scientific topic, which will be published on the New Statesman website
- Visit Parliament and learn about how science-based legislation is developed and debated in the select committee system
- Have an opportunity to interview a leading scientist or policy-maker
- Write a regular bylined science blog on the New Statesman website
- Receive regular feedback and editing from the editorial team
- Meet journalists at other titles in the sector (previous Wellcome Scholars have met writers for the Atlantic, and presenters for the BBC)
Over the course of the placements, you will be paid London living wage (£9.40/hour). The short placements will take place between April 2016 and April 2017, at a time agreed between the NS and you. The longer placement is scheduled for a summer start, but we can be flexible.
To apply for the longer placement, please visit the Creative Access website.
To apply for the shorter placement, follow the steps below and apply direct to the New Statesman.
Please write an 800-word blogpost on a recent or upcoming scientific development which you feel has the potential to change lives significantly, explaining clearly and concisely what stage the research is at, and how it is likely to proceed. It should be written as if for the NS audience – interested, intelligent laypeople.
Please also write up to 200 words on why you are right for this placement and what you would hope to get out of it. You don’t need to send a CV.
Please only use Word files, or paste your text into the body of an email.
Send your application by email to Helen Lewis (Helen @ newstatesman co uk) with the subject line “Wellcome Scholarship 2016”.
Applications close on 25 March 2016. Interviews will take place soon after.
* This is a positive action scheme under the Race Relations Act.
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