15 Mentorships Created by WIJ Scotland

Our panel has spent the past two weeks reading and re-reading applications to our inaugural mentorship scheme.

The response significantly exceeded our expectations - so we decided to find more matches where possible. 

Unsuccessful applicants have been sent tailored feedback, which we hope will help shape their goals. 

Eight mentees have been selected to pair with our original group of mentors. A further seven mentors have come on board, including some from our own committee, who will mentor additional mentees whose applications they felt an affinity with. They are Anna Burnside, Natasha Radmehr, Margot McCuaig, Fiona Russell, Catriona MacPhee, Jan Patience and Gabriella Bennett. 

Jan Patience, Co-Chair of Women in Journalism Scotland, said: "This year has been an exceptionally difficult one for everyone and women working in the media have been battling through it like everyone else. This is reflected in many of the applications we received for our pilot mentoring scheme. 

"Sadly there are still many examples of inequality in the media and this scheme is part of wider efforts by Women in Journalism Scotland to try to tackle the imbalance. A recent survey shows that equality in the media has suffered as a result of the events of 2020 and several respondents cited mentoring as an important way to support women.

“We are really pleased to have matched our original eight mentors with eight fantastic women in journalism – and then added in seven additional mentors for good measure. We wish them all well.

Congratulations to the class of 2021.

We look forward to seeing how the pairings lead to a more diverse and dynamic future for women in the Scottish journalism scene.