Seven of Northern Ireland’s most promising young journalists have secured a place at a prestigious international media conference.
The students, including from Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University, will take part in British Council’s Future News Worldwide programme which takes place at Thomson Reuters Headquarters in London next week (July 15-17).
Selected from a highly competitive field of more than 3,000 applicants, they will be among 100 delegates from 53 countries and across two days they will get the latest insights from current media leaders while building their own international connections.
Future News Worldwide is developed by the British Council in partnership with leading news and digital media organisations to identify, train and connect the next generation of top international journalists. This year delegates will learn from some of the most experienced and respected international editors, broadcasters and reporters from top media organisations including CNN, Google News, Facebook and UK Schools of Journalism with speakers including Christina Lamb from the Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Jon Snow.
As the media itself is increasingly the subject of news headlines, the event presents a timely opportunity to focus on the universal values of objectivity, balance and evidence that underpin the profession. Topics under the lens will include media freedom and responsibility; truth and transparency; empowering audiences and challenging cynicism.
Speaking ahead of the event was Jane Corscadden, a recent Politics graduate from Queen’s. She said: “I applied for Future News Worldwide as I’m really passionate about journalism and would like to pursue it as a career. Hopefully by attending the conference I can learn and get tips on how to get into the industry, as it’s such a competitive field.
“Next year, I will start my master’s in Journalism at Ulster University, so this is also a great opportunity to not only hear from amazing speakers like Jon Snow, but also meet like-minded individuals from all over the world.”
Jonathan Stewart, Director, British Council Northern Ireland said: “We’re delighted to have some of Northern Ireland’s most promising young journalists attend Future News Worldwide. The conference will help to build an international community and network of future journalists and media figures and raise the profile of Northern Ireland’s young people internationally.
“This opportunity will give participants the chance to meet outstanding media figures, visit famous newsrooms and learn research, editing and production skills and hopefully in turn, bring these new skills and experiences back to Northern Ireland along with their new global connections.”
To find out more about the conference visit https://www.britishcouncil.org/future-news-worldwide or follow the #FNW19.
The British Council is the UK’s leading cultural relations organisation. For more information on current opportunities in Northern Ireland, visit nireland.britishcouncil.org , or follow on Twitter: @BCouncil_NI
Caption: From left: Northern Ireland journalism students Peter Moor, Maisie Linford, Amy Murray and Jane Corscadden are getting ready for British Council’s Future News Worldwide Conference which takes place at Thomson Reuters Headquarters in London next week (15-17 July). They will be among 100 delegates from 53 countries and over two days they will get the latest insights from current media leaders and disruptors while building their own international connections. For more information visit: https://www.britishcouncil.org/future-news-worldwide or follow on Twitter: @BCouncil_NI.
Details of Northern Ireland’s FNW Delegates 2019:
Amy Murray – Queen’s University Belfast, Music
Maisie Linford – Queen’s University Belfast, Broadcast Production
Jane Corscadden – Queen’s University Belfast, Politics Graduate
Peter Moor – Queen’s University Belfast, English Graduate
Joy Kennedy - Robert Gordon University - International
Chelsie Kealey – Ulster University, master’s in Journalism
Joanna Hynds – Ulster University, master’s in Journalism
For further information please contact:
Claire McAuley, Communications Manager: T +44 (0) 28 9019 2224 | M +44 (0) 7856524504 Claire.McAuley@britishcouncil.org Twitter: @BCouncil_NI, Facebook – www.facebook.com/britishcouncilnorthernireland
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 65 million people directly and 731 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. britishcouncil.org
About Future News Worldwide
Future News Worldwide is delivered through a partnership between the British Council and the Future News Worldwide Advisory Committee, comprising: the British Council, BBC, CNN, Facebook, Google News Initiative, Thomson Reuters, Newsquest Scotland, STV, The Quint, The Thomson Foundation and UK Schools of Journalism.
The full list of countries represented by Future News Worldwide 2019 delegates is: Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Delegates for Future News Worldwide were selected after a worldwide open application process eligible to undergraduate and postgraduate students from any country who will be aged between 18 and 25 years old on 1 July 2019. Delegates do not have to be studying journalism but should be able to demonstrate that they are passionate about following a career in the field.