UPDATE: DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS EXTENDED UNTIL MARCH 13

Women in Journalism Scotland and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have launched the inaugural WiJS x JRF bursary programme. 

Five women journalists will each be awarded £1,500 to develop a project shining a light on economic and / or social inequalities around Scotland. 

The project should be solutions-driven. More information on the types of projects considered can be found below. 

The funding will be spent on working up each project from an idea stage to a developed pitch ready to be taken to a publication or launched independently. 

Part of the bursary programme involves working with an established woman journalist who will support successful applicants. This could be by helping to develop news lines, devising a list of target publications and advising on research techniques. The journalist mentor will be paid for two days of their time. Applicants should suggest a mentor they want to work with. 

The funding will support successful applicants over the course of 2023. We expect all projects to be launched by December.

Gabriella Bennett, chair of Women in Journalism Scotland, said: “This is an essential opportunity to eliminate financial hurdles that would usually stop women journalists from working on long-form journalism. It’s also a great chance for publications to find new voices and dazzling pitches.”

Chris Birt, associate director for Scotland at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation added: “The Covid-19 pandemic and the current cost of living crisis must surely convince us that we can do better than this.  Poverty, and the inequality that underpins it, is bearing its teeth in a way that cannot be tolerated in a society as wealthy as Scotland.  

“This exciting project’s aim is to shine a light on both the causes and cures for poverty and inequality and to help support more women journalists to use their experience and skill, with support from their peers and us, to do so.”

PROJECTS CONSIDERED

We expect proposed projects to be reasonably developed with some initial research already undertaken. We welcome ideas for:

• Investigations

• Long-form features 

• Documentaries 

• Radio productions

• Podcast series

• Travel writing or interview series

• Non-fiction book proposals

WHAT YOU GET

• £1,500 to develop a journalism project to pitch stage

• A journalist mentor to help each project reach its potential

• Two check-in meetings with Women in Journalism Scotland to provide extra guidance

• Support from experts at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY

This opportunity is suited to early to mid-career freelance women journalists. Applicants should have a number of bylines under their belt and be confident of being able to get their project published. We define mid-career journalists as anyone who still believes they have room to grow in their career. 

Women journalists in staff jobs can also apply but there must be no contractual barrier to you pitching your project to a wide range of publications (a supporting statement from your employer may be required). 

Applicants must have experienced economic inequality at some stage in their lives. This includes, but is not limited to:

In childhood

• A family member in receipt of benefits

• Family members employed in low-paid work

• Family members who were unable to work due to disability or long-term illness (whether physical or mental ill-health)

• Having experience of the care system

In adulthood

• Receiving Universal Credit or another equivalent means-tested benefit

• Experiencing housing or food insecurity

• Experiencing economic and / or social inequalities during their child’s early years and/or after returning to work from maternity or adoption leave

• Experiencing financial hardship while suffering discrimination in whatever setting (whether work, education or provision of services), including due to race.

• Experiencing financial hardship while in a caring role

• Experiencing financial hardship while recovering from illness, chronic health condition, or being disabled.

If you’d like to apply but are unsure whether you’re eligible, please email wijscotland@gmail.com for advice 

The bursary programme is not open to students. 

WHAT CAN THE £1,500 BE SPENT ON?

The funding will most likely be used as a wage to live from while researching your project. However, it can also be spent on travelling expenses or accessing archive material, for example. 

We envisage the bursary being delivered in three instalments throughout 2023. 

WHO ARE THE JUDGES?

Shelley Jofre, head of investigations, BBC Scotland

Heather Dewar, sports writer, Scottish Daily Mail and Journalist of the Year 2022

Gabriella Bennett, chair, Women in Journalism Scotland

Arusa Qureshi, freelance journalist and editor 

Husna Mortuza, associate director of public engagement, Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Judith Duffy, chief political reporter, Sunday National

Rhiannon J Davies, founding editor of Greater Govanhill magazine 

Jan Patience, arts columnist, the Sunday Post

Catriona Stewart, writer-at-large, The Herald 

WHEN IS THE DEADLINE AND WHEN WILL RECIPIENTS HEAR BACK?

The deadline has been extended and is now March 13.  

HOW TO APPLY

Applications should include three elements. 

1. A one-page journalism CV (pdf)

2. A one-page pitch outlining and selling the project (pdf). This must include:

• What the project is and what research you have done so far

• How you will approach your project 

• How long your project will take to complete 

• What is your project’s hook / news line

• What publications you’ll pitch to

• Why the project is vital, and why now

• What new light the project shines on its topic

• Who you would like to mentor you (they must be based in Scotland and be working in the same area as your project)

• Why you are eligible 

3. If you are submitting a broadcast / radio / podcast proposal, please send a one minute YouTube video of yourself selling your project. 

Terms and conditions

• Entrants must be a member of Women in Journalism Scotland

• Applications should be emailed to wijscotland@gmail.com Please also include your name, address, email address and telephone number in the body of the email.

• Recipients will sign a conditions of grant document 

Last year a record number of women were nominated and won prizes at the Scottish Press Awards (SPA). Women in Journalism Scotland is determined to continue the trend by offering to cover 20 entry fees for women journalists who'd like to apply in 2023. 

If you'd like to apply to have your entry fees paid, please email wijscotland@gmail.com. Applicant names will be selected at random and successful journalists contacted at the end of this month.

We also welcome questions about the application process and are happy to provide advice if you are finding it hard to choose between articles you'd like to submit. The deadline for applying to have your entry fees covered by WiJS is January 26. 

We're also making available a workshop we hosted last year with Denise West, chair of the SPA judges; Catherine Salmond, then-editor of Scotland on Sunday; and Susan Mathieson, managing director of Events Consultants Scotland, organisers of the SPA since 2004. This workshop helped to demystify the application process and provided lots of practical advice on how and what to enter. 

To receive a recording of the workshop, email wijscotland@gmail.com

Good luck!

The last 12 months have been a whirlwind for Women in Journalism Scotland. 

A return to in-person events saw our committee plan and host an incredible five-year anniversary summit at the V&A Dundee, with guest speakers including the Guardian’s political editor Pippa Crerar and political commentator Ayesha Hazarika. 

Our achievements for 2022 span workshops, socials, and all kinds of member support. 

Here are just a few of the highlights:

26 mentees paired with inspirational mentors

£550 raised in an end-of-year fundraising drive

Two seasonal socials with 85 guests

Two Zoom training workshops

One wonderful book salon 

20 political commentators media-trained in broadcast studios for contributor opportunities + childcare costs covered

Eleven organisations partnered with to improve gender equality in the media

One campaign launched to help raise the number of women journalists on print sports desks

Six student sports journalists trained on match reporting

55 delegates in attendance at our five-year anniversary summit

Four new committee members added

One newsletter writer hired

20 entry fees offered for women entrants to the Scottish Press Awards

Two talks given to students on how to get into the industry 

Countless jobs and opportunities offered to members

All Zoom experts, panellists and web writers paid for their time

None of our achievements would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our committee. We’d also like to thank our event sponsors. 

On behalf of all at Women in Journalism Scotland, Merry Christmas and a happy new year. 

(L-R) Anna Burnside (WiJS committee); Dorothy Prodhan; Fiona O’Hara; Claire Thomson; Emma Dodds (sports broadcaster); Rhianwen Hopwood and Rachel Cameron.

By Rachel Cameron

The lowdown on broadcasting, how to get a foot in the door - and definitely don’t clap for either team when you are in the press box.

These are just some of the insights into the industry gained by a group of future sports journalists when we headed to Scotstoun Stadium in October to see Glasgow Warriors take on Benetton, during a press box trip organised by Women in Journalism Scotland. 

For those of us who hadn’t seen many - if any - rugby matches before, the Glasgow Warriors put on a great display of rugby for us all to enjoy. It was wonderful to see the Warriors get an epic win too and be awarded the full 15 points to boost them up the 22/23 BKT United Rugby Championship. 

Whilst the rugby was excellent, that was not why we were there. We were there to gain a better insight as to how all the media runs on a matchday, as well as the chance to sit in the press box for the game and write a match report alongside those who work in the industry.

We started off with a tour around the stadium, and we were then extremely lucky to chat to Scottish Rugby legend and now broadcaster Chris Paterson down on the pitch.

Chris gave us a wonderful explanation into the different levels of detail that are required to viewers dependent on the streaming service. The game we were at was being streamed by Premier Sports, Chris explained as this is a subscription platform, viewers expect a wee bit more insight and specifics of the match than you would hear or see in Six Nations coverage.

After chatting to Chris, we headed inside to see the media set up for interviews, the coin toss, and the post-match conference. Here we got to speak to Glasgow Warriors’ media manager, Duncan Seller as well as presenter Emma Dodds.

Duncan gave us a great lowdown on what his role requires before, during and after the match and how it all worked during the worst of the Covid pandemic. 

Emma explained her background and how and what she did to get her foot into the door and become successful in the industry. Emma also gave us some fantastic advice which I think everyone benefitted from. She really took the time to speak with us individually too about all of our future plans, which was nice. 

Then, it was kick off and we headed up to the press box for the game- we quickly learnt that in the press box you are not to clap for either team! We all got our notebooks and laptops out and began devising our match reports. Once the game was over, we headed down to witness the post-match conference. 

This was an absolutely amazing experience for all of us and we can’t thank Women in Journalism Scotland enough for arranging this press box trip. A huge thank you to Anna Burnside for accompanying us and to all the fabulous people who took the time to chat to us.

To learn first hand on what our futures might look like before they have even properly begun is such a privilege and makes me so excited for what is potentially to come. 

Stuck for festive gift ideas? WiJ Scotland is here to help. This Christmas we are hosting an online fundraising auction with gig tickets, spa days, gift vouchers and more, available at huge discounts.

Our sponsors have kindly donated a range of fantastic prizes which we are passing on with price reductions of up to 90%.

Up for grabs are:

2 x tickets to the Riverside Festival 2023

A bottle of Edinburgh Gin signed by Phoebe Waller Bridge

A WanderWomen mindfulness experience

Central Scotland School of Craft gift voucher

Central Scotland School of Jewellery gift voucher

Session for two at the Elie Seaside Sauna

Overnight stay for two at Yotel Glasgow

2 x spa day passes at the five-star Balmoral Hotel Edinburgh

Afternoon tea for two at Saint Judes, Glasgow

Painting by Edinburgh artist Rhona Taylor

You can view all the prizes, and bid, here.

Bids on many items start at just £1 and prizes are guaranteed to be delivered to your door for Christmas.

Bidding is open from now and will end on Dec 6 at 7.30pm 

This is a great opportunity to win high-value Christmas gifts for a fraction of the RRP while also supporting the campaigning work of WiJ Scotland.

This year, our work has included hosting an five-year anniversary summit, matching 25 early-career journalists with mentors, hosting broadcasting training, supporting women entering the press awards and helping aspiring student sports journalists enter the industry. Every penny raised will go back to our cause.

Any questions please email wijscotland@gmail.com

Women in Journalism Scotland has launched the third round of its successful mentoring scheme.

Our mentors have helped their mentees bag bylines in publications such as The New York Times and The Guardian, as well as building contacts and growing confidence.

On the 2023 programme we have more than 30 influential women journalists keen to share their knowledge and experience with the next generation.

Their names are among the most recognisable in Scottish and UK media, spanning print, broadcast, digital and radio. Their specialisms include politics, investigations, travel, food and drink, arts, health, sport, local news, digital, data, housing, opinion and tech.

Our 2023 mentors

Dani Garavelli is a freelance feature writer and columnist working for titles across the UK.

Laura Kuenssberg presents the BBC’s flagship interview show on Sunday mornings on BBC One. Before that she did a seven year stint as the BBC’s first female political editor, during which she reported for a wide range of BBC programmes, made a number of successful documentaries and won multiple awards. She loves meeting and supporting journalists earlier on in their careers.

Karin Goodwin is an investigative journalist and co-editor of The Ferret. Specialisms include migration, housing and homelessness, and other social issues. She's also worked on a wide range of investigations that look at power and ownership in modern Scotland and recently set-up the Ferret's first community newsroom with Greater Govanhill magazine, with whom she is working on a year-long project about health inequalities. 

TV presenter and broadcast journalist Jean Johansson is the host of flagship Channel 4 show A Place In The Sun. As well as her role as regular reporter for The One Show and presenter on hugely popular BBC daytime programme Animal Park, she has shown her versatility by co-presenting Channel 5 consumer series Are They A Con?

Catherine Salmond is editor of The Herald. Previous roles include editor of Scotland on Sunday, live editor at The Scotsman and features editor at Edinburgh Evening News. She has a wealth of experience in online and print journalism and has mentored with WIJS over the last year.

Heather Dewar has worked in journalism for over 20 years. She has a huge amount of experience in broadcast journalism in both radio and television. When covid hit, Heather moved into the world of newspapers and began freelancing for the Scottish Daily Mail. She remains there today and in 2022, won Journalist of the Year and Sports News Writer of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards. She was highly commended for Interviewer of the Year, Sports Feature Writer of the Year and the Nicola Barry award.

Eilidh Barbour presents and reports for Premier League and FA Cup matches for BBC Final Score and also presents Sky Sports' Scottish Premiership live coverage. She previously reported and presented BT Sport's coverage of Scottish football, Champions League, Europa League and WSL matches. As a presenter, she regularly fronts Football Focus, Match of the Day 2, FA Cup matches and is the face of BBC golf.

Rhiannon J Davies is the founder and editor of the award-winning Greater Govanhill magazine, which takes a solutions-focused approach to covering local issues and aims to provide a platform to voices typically under-represented in the media. Prior to launching the magazine, she worked in freelance travel writing, digital video journalism, third sector communications.

Aasmah Mir is a presenter on Times Radio Breakfast. Before that she presented on Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live.

Ashley Davies is a freelance arts journalist with a particular interest in comedy interviews. She has weekly slots in The Times Scotland's Alba supplement and Metro, and was a judge at this year's Dave's Edinburgh Comedy Awards. In her 30 years in journalism, mainly in newspapers, she's done business reporting (which she hated), sub-editing, section/commission editing and feature writing, and is most happy doing the latter. 

Pennie Taylor is a Glasgow-based freelance journalist and broadcaster. A health and social care specialist, she was BBC Scotland’s first health correspondent.

In Susan Egelstaff's previous life she was an international badminton player but after retiring from sport following the London 2012 Olympic Games, she became involved in journalism. She's been a writer and columnist for The Herald for ten years, covering primarily Olympic sports, and is also a regular contributor on BBC Radio Scotland.

Lesley-Anne Kelly is the head of data journalism at DC Thomson. She is an award winning journalist who led her team to nominations in the Scottish Press awards, the Future of Media Awards, and the global Sigma awards for data journalism – all in their first year.

Gabby Pieraccini is a specialist athletics writer and founder of the Decathletes of Europe website. Her coverage of combined events, in writing and in commentary, is in demand internationally and highly regarded for its combination of analysis and storytelling. Her work has been published by World Athletics, European Athletics and other athletics platforms.

Gabriella Bennett is an author and freelance journalist. She writes for The Observer, The Guardian, The Times and The Sunday Times on housing, travel and social justice. She was named travel writer of the year at the 2021 Scottish Press Awards and regional property journalist of the year at the 2021 UK Property Press Awards for her inviestigations into the cladding crisis.

Mary McCool is an award-winning journalist who has worked across major titles in Scotland since 2013. Her portfolio includes a range of hard news and features across digital, print and TV. She covered major events for STV News' online operation including the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Scottish independence referendum, while her breaking news coverage of the 2018 Glasgow School of Art fire for the Scottish Sun won digital team of the year at the Scottish Press Awards. She now works for BBC News where she covers news, politics and human interest stories.

Vicky Allan is senior features writer for the Herald, specialising in the environment. She has been at the paper for the past 20 years and previously worked for Scotland on Sunday and the Times. She is also an author of non-fiction books on wild swimming, the menopause and trees, as well as one novel, Stray.

Anna Burnside has worked at the Gorgie-Dalry Gazette, the Sunday Times and everything in between. She has been a reporter, a sub editor, a section editor and an editor. Over a couple of stints as a freelance she had bylines in national papers, trade papers and women's magazines. She is currently a feature writer at the Daily Record. She also appears on TV and radio and chairs live events.

Shona Gossip is the live news editor at the Press and Journal and Evening Express in Aberdeen. She started out at the P&J as a trainee and has covered more than a decade of the north of Scotland's biggest stories. She enjoys working with the trainees within the newsroom and is looking forward to being part of the WiJS mentoring scheme.

Kathryn Samson is STV’s Westminster editor. She presents political coverage on STV News at Six and Scotland Tonight. She’s covered all the major political events of the last decade, including the Scottish independence referendum, Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Tory leadership crisis. In 2022 she was awarded Nations and Regions Presenter of the Year at the Royal Television Society Awards in London.

Helen McArdle is the health correspondent for The Herald. Since 2020, her focus has been on the impact of the pandemic on the NHS. She was named Specialist Reporter of the Year at the 2022 Scottish Press Awards and picked up the Stephen White Award for the Reporting of Science in a Non-Science Context at the Association for British Science Writers awards.

Alison Conroy is a digital sports journalist at Sky Sports. She also has more than 15 years’ experience in radio broadcasting and was sports editor at Radio Clyde before moving to the Scottish Premiership’s host broadcaster.

Sophie Pither is a freelance journalist specialising in food and travel articles for national newspapers and magazines. She has written for Condé Nast Traveller, The Times, the i, The Sunday Times, The Guardian and Olive magazine, among many others.

Catriona Stewart is a writer-at-large with The Herald. Her interests are social affairs, feminism, education and the complex issues in the Govanhill area of the city. She has also reported from Sierra Leone and the refugee camps along the Thailand/Myanmar border.

Rosalind Erskine is a Glasgow-based magazine editor turned digital editor, content creator and broadcaster who has worked in Scotland, London and Dubai. She currently edits a newly launched news and lifestyle website, GlasgowWorld, as well as writing about all things Scottish food and drink for the Scotsman. She also co-created, co-produces and hosts the newspaper’s award-nominated food and drink podcast, Scran, and is the restaurant reviewer for Scotland on Sunday.

Emily Yates is an accessibility consultant, journalist and speaker currently living in Glasgow after dividing her time between the UK and Rio de Janeiro where she worked with the underground transport system in order to promote inclusion for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She also wrote the Lonely Planet Guide to Accessible Rio de Janeiro that was endorsed by the International Paralympic Committee and given to over 2000 Paralympians.

Fiona McKay is a lecturer and researcher in journalism. She has a teaching focus on gender, media, and politics. Her professional experience also includes working as a freelance news reporter and digital reporter for six years, mostly for the Herald and Times Group (Newsquest) in Glasgow which includes the publications: the Herald, the Herald Online, the Sunday Herald and the Evening Times (now Glasgow Times).

Alex Watson is the head of comment for regional north and north-east Scotland news brands, the Press and Journal and Evening Express. She is also a regular columnist for the P&J, writing mainly about social issues.

Sally Hampton is a consumer magazines publisher at DC Thomson Media. She oversees a diverse portfolio of UK and Scottish interest magazine brands. Her role involves identifying opportunities to grow existing DC Thomson Media titles through innovation and expansion – and launching new products across a variety of platforms. Most recently, she was a key member of the team that delivered Platinum magazine, one of the biggest launches in consumer magazines in recent times. Sally is currently chair of PPA Scotland.

Monica Soriano is editor of the BBC News Technology and Innovation Story Team.

Gina Davidson is LBC's Scotland Political Editor after making the leap from newspapers to radio last year. Decades of working in the Scottish media mean she’s been lucky enough to win some awards, but mostly she’s been very privileged to report on people's lives and the things that matter to them the most.

Kirsty Wark is best known as an anchor on the BBC’s flagship news and current affairs show Newsnight. Kirsty has several major accolades to her name including BAFTA Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting, Journalist of the Year and Best Television Presenter.

How to apply
To apply to have your media career shaped by this opportunity, fill in the below application form by December 13 2022.
This year we are also asking applicants to submit a short plan detailing what they would like to achieve with a mentor, including two goals.

Apply here.

Who can apply?

Early and mid-career women journalists working in Scotland will be chosen to take part in a year-long programme, which will include an hour a month of their mentor’s time, most likely on Zoom. WiJ Scotland defines a mid-career journalist as someone who feels they still have space to grow in their career and has specific goals they feel a mentor would help with.

Boosting the number of women of colour journalists and women sports journalists is one of our goals. Therefore, while the mentoring scheme is not generally open to student journalists, it is open to women of colour student journalists and students who want to be sports journalists.

Applicants must be a member of Women in Journalism Scotland. If you are not yet a member of Women in Journalism Scotland, join here.

Why mentoring?

We believe mentoring has the ability to change the future of journalism. That future features a more confident, diverse workforce, a greater prevalence of women’s voices and more women in senior positions.

How is the mentoring scheme judged?

Applicants will be selected by a panel led by the WiJ Scotland committee. The panel will study all the answers to the questions posed in each application and base its final decision on the journalists proving how much they would benefit from the programme. An additional factor will be which applicant best fits the skills and experience of the mentors.

When will I hear back?

We aim to contact all applicants by the end of December. Unsuccessful applicants will be provided with feedback.

For any questions, please email wijscotland@gmail.com

Rhiannon Davis and Karin Goodwin outside the community newsroom in Govanhill

Two pioneering journalism projects have teamed up to open Scotland’s first independent community newsroom.

WIJ Scotland committee member Rhiannon Davis, who set up Greater Govanhill magazine, and Karin Goodwin, co-founder of investigative journalism platform The Ferret, are leading a fundraising drive to help with set-up costs for the initiative.

The community newsroom is based in the heart of Govanhill, one of Scotland’s most densely populated and ethnically diverse neighbourhoods.

The two independent media outlets say they hope to produce more high impact journalism by having a space where people can engage with journalists directly.

Greater Govanhill magazine will be able to work closely with members of the community who want to share their own stories, while The Ferret, which is a cooperative that is owned by its readers and writers, will continue its Scotland-wide focus but with a community base.

“Doing things differently has never felt more important than in these tricky times.”

The Ferret and Greater Govanhill magazine are also working toward a year-long project – Mind the health gap – which takes a solutions journalism focus to health inequalities in Glasgow, Scotland and beyond.

Both organisations plan to use the venue as an office base as well as a venue for training and other events.

A crowdfunder has been launched to help with set-up costs of the newsroom, which is expected to open next month.

In recognition of the tough financial situation facing people across the country, non-financial donations including furniture, plants and help with renovations are also being welcomed.

Rhiannon, founder of Greater Govanhill magazine, said: “We see the community newsroom as a hub for community building and a space for sharing stories, ideas, and perspectives.

“It will be an innovative space for hyperlocal, community-based journalism to collaborate with rigorous investigative journalism; not seen anywhere else in the country.”

Karin, co-editor of The Ferret said: “At The Ferret our mission is to produce high-quality, Scotland-wide investigations in the public interest. But it is also so important for us to be rooted in the community, and accessible to the public that we serve.

“Greater Govanhill magazine already does a fantastic job of working with its community so we are really excited to see what more we can all learn from each other in this new venture,”

Karin added: “Doing things differently and working collaboratively has never felt more important than in these tricky times.”

For more information on the project and to donate to the crowdfunder click here.

Pictured clockwise from top left Heather Dewar; L-R Gabriella Bennett (Chair of WiJ Scotland), Marion Scott (Sunday Post) and Denise West of the Scottish Press Awards; A group photo of all the award winners. Pictures: Jeff Holmes

By Jennifer McLaren

The 43rd Scottish Press Awards in Glasgow saw a raft of female journalists being recognised for outstanding work over the past year.

We would like to congratulate all the winners, runners-up and nominees – many of whom are members of our network.

Heather Dewar of the Scottish Daily Mail picked up Journalist of the Year and Sports News Writer of the Year, while Marion Scott of The Sunday Post received the Nicola Barry Award and Reporter of the Year.

There were so many other names to celebrate including: Daniella Theis (Student of the Year); Beth Murray (Young Journalist of the Year) Hannah Rodger (Political Journalist of the Year) and WiJ Scotland’s chair Gabriella Bennett, who was runner-up in both Scoop of the Year and Travel Writer of the Year.

We caught up with Heather Dewar, who is not only an outstanding broadcast and print sports journalist but also a Women in Journalism Scotland mentor on our mentoring programme.

She was ecstatic to take home her double whammy of awards after a challenging few years.

Heather told us: “Winning Journalist of the Year and Sports News Writer of the Year is without doubt the highlight of my career so far. On the night, I really wasn’t expecting to win a thing. I was absolutely delighted just to have been nominated.

“It was such a huge, huge honour to take both titles. I have an enormous amount of respect for my journalistic colleagues and fellow nominees, so to come home with Journalist of the Year, in particular, is simply incredible.” 

She added: “I really want to thank the judges for recognising the work I have delivered over the last year. It means so much to me after a particularly torrid time.”

Heather Dewar accepting her award on stage. Picture: Jeff Holmes

Heather revealed that this time two years ago, she was on Universal Credit and living off a credit card, having been cast aside as a freelancer due to the global pandemic. 

She explained: “I fell through every crack imaginable and could only look on in envy at those fortunate enough to be furloughed. I’d gone from a contracted position as women’s sport reporter  to staring into the abyss of unemployment. No help. No warning. Nothing. 

“The Mail threw me a lifeline just after I’d started a full-time role with the civil service and gave me the opportunity to step into the world of newspapers as a freelance contributor. I juggled home-schooling and working full-time with writing and deadlines. 

“As a broadcaster of twenty years, this was a whole new world for me, but the welcome I have received has been fantastic.”

Heather said she has worked on amazing stories with some phenomenal individuals over the past year. 

“I want to thank them for the trust they instilled in me to tell their stories,” she continued. “I hope that in some small way, my own story can inspire young journalists to keep on fighting when the world seems against them. 

“Know your worth. Don’t listen to those who try to put you down”

— Heather Dewar

“Have faith in what you do and who you are. Reach for the stars. Know your worth. Don’t listen to those who try to put you down. With hard work and determination, you can beat your own path to success. 

“Most importantly, respect those around you. Do that, and you’ve already won half the battle.”

The Nicola Barry Award is sponsored by WiJ Scotland and is open to all women journalists working in print and online media in Scotland.

It honours the memory of Nicola Barry – one of Scotland’s most respected journalists – who passed away in 2017.

Heather was the runner-up in this category and the judging panel felt without exception that both she and winner Marion Scott reflected Nicola’s incisive and thorough approach to investigative journalism, imbuing all their stories with humanity, heart and soul. 

Marion is Chief Reporter at The Sunday Post and her portfolio had three extremely powerful articles, which displayed her talent for interviewing and storytelling as well as tireless research and attention to detail.

Marion said: “I was absolutely over the moon to receive this award. I have been in journalism for such a long time and have collected a lot of awards over the years, but it was particularly special to receive the Nicola Barry Award because it’s something I never thought I would get.

“Nicola was tremendous and a trailblazer. She did an incredible job. I just hope that I am worthy of having the award in her name.”

She added: “I’m very lucky The Sunday Post and our editor Jim Wilson ensures we get the time to do the research and he encourages us absolutely to do the whole story. In fact, that’s one of our slogans – when you read the paper you’re not just getting a tidbit, you’re getting the whole story.”

Marion believes it’s vitally important a Sunday newspaper is able to take the time to present in-depth stories so readers can digest the background and research that has gone into crafting the articles. The Sunday Post was also named Sunday Newspaper of the Year at the ceremony.

Nicola Barry Award. L-R Gabriella Bennett (Chair of WiJ Scotland) Marion Scott (The Sunday Post) and Denise West (Scottish Press Awards) Picture: Jeff Holmes

“I think no matter what happens we will always have a Sunday newspaper and one of the things we should always concentrate on is doing stories that matter, taking on subjects that mean something to our readers,” Marion continued.

“We tackle subjects such as serious women’s issues, domestic violence, crime, child abuse. I did the mesh implants campaign after thousands of women were left with life-changing injuries across Scotland.”

She also noticed something of a sea change at the press awards ceremony, with more women being recognised for their hard work and professionalism.

Marion said: “It was really wonderful to see Heather Dewar receiving Journalist of the Year as a sports writer and getting recognition for doing what she does. She has gone across the board and tackled incredible subjects that don’t just appeal to sport fans, they appeal to every kind of reader. She was a worthy winner and really deserved it.”

WiJ Scotland would like to thank the Nicola Barry Award judges: Jan Patience, Cat MacPhee, Jean Rafferty and Nicola Young for their time and energy.

Gabriella Bennett, WiJ Scotland chair, said: “Women in Journalism Scotland is proud to celebrate our very best women journalists with the Nicola Barry Award. This year’s finalists spanned a broad range of beats but all had sparkling writing and original ideas in common.

"The award was set up to pay tribute to one of Scotland’s finest women journalists, and Marion Scott is another top talent to add to that list”.

L-R Alex Watson, Isla Glen, who recently completed a three-month internship with the DC Thomson Comment team, and Morag Lindsay

Women in Journalism Scotland caught up with Morag Lindsay and Alex Watson, who are the respective heads of the Comment sections of The Courier and The Press and Journal – both DC Thomson Media titles.

Both Morag and Alex write columns as well as commissioning and editing other writers. Alex’s work has won her a nomination for this year’s Nicola Barry Award at the Scottish Press Awards, which is sponsored by WiJ Scotland.

These dedicated Comment sections were introduced to the titles just over a year ago as part of a move to creating digital content first. Here, Morag and Alex share their tips for creating successful pitches.

“When we take a step back and look at what we have done, the Comment sections on both websites have come on leaps and bounds. They are very different from what they were before,” Morag explains.

“We are producing far more volume and far more variety, hearing from a much broader range of voices than we had before. It’s also younger, certainly more female and more diverse. I think we are also presenting the pieces in a much more interesting way.”

“We’ve had a lot of success with different things – so always pitch it”

— Alex Watson

Alex adds: “I think we have proven there’s an appetite for less conventional articles. People look at The Courier and The P&J and think of them as quite reserved, conservative, but we’ve had a lot of success with different things – so always pitch it.”

In terms of standing out from the crowd, Morag and Alex believe that regional publications are in the advantageous position of having a bit more time to spend on crafting a good piece of work.

Alex says: “There are always lots of hot takes, but I think it’s better to take a step back, a little bit of time and get something that’s unique – otherwise everyone just ends up writing the same thing.”

Morag adds: It’s much more considered now, so think about making a unique point rather than just reacting quickly. It’s also thinking about the audience. Most are local so we still have to think about how the topic might affect people in our area.”

When it comes to getting in touch, Morag and Alex don’t want you to be shy. They both say the majority of their regular pitchers are male – so if you have an idea then drop them a line.

Alex says: “It’s worth saying we’re both really nice. We’re never going to be horrible. And we do always get back to people.”

So, what can writers do to ensure they get their pitch is, well, pitch-perfect?

Morag advises: “Look at the Opinion sections of both of our websites and read the website every day to see the stories that we are reporting on. We still find that local comment pieces on local issues tend to do the best.”

Alex adds: “We would like a fleshed-out pitch. Sometimes people have already written the piece, but we would prefer they didn’t. We also want to hear a bit about you because we need to know whether you are the right person to write this – tell us what experience you have to be able to comment on the subject.”

In terms of subject matter, Morag is currently on the lookout for political commentary and she’s got a soft spot for a personal piece.

“I love really personal pieces, anything with a bit of heart to it,” she says. “Taking something that’s in the news but putting a personal spin on it.”

If you want to get in touch with Morag or Alex, you can email them:

molindsay@dctmedia.co.uk

alex.watson@pressandjournal.co.uk

Pippa Crerar, Catriona MacPhee, Ayesha Hazarika and Gabriella Bennett. Pictures: Laura A Tiliman

By Claire Thomson, WiJ Scotland mentee

“Don’t give up on your ambition. Have each other’s professional backs. You don’t always have to agree with each other. Create your own gangs of advisors. As women, remove the shame of failing.”

The reason why Women in Journalism (WIJ) Scotland was established five years ago was perfectly summed up by Ayesha Hazarika, political commentator, broadcaster and comedian, in her after-dinner speech at The Big Five celebration event.

I first discovered WIJ Scotland in December 2021 when I applied to the mentorship scheme as an aspiring sports journalist. Less than nine months on and my career aims are beginning to become a reality, thanks to the volunteer-run organisation.

I was so excited to come together with other women with career goals like mine at the V&A Dundee to celebrate everything that WIJ Scotland has done to campaign for gender equality and equal opportunities in Scottish media.

Between the meeting of new people and putting faces to names, there was the opportunity to explore the new exhibition uncovering the story of Valentines, Scotland’s most successful commercial photographers. The V&A Dundee also kindly opened their exhibition on ground-breaking Scottish dancer and choreographer, Michael Clark, to the guests of WIJ Scotland’s five-year summit, which was an excellent immersive experience.

The first panel of the event chaired by broadcast and print sports journalist and my incredible mentor, Heather Dewar. ‘Moving the Goalposts: how to get more woman into sports journalism (and make them want to stay)’ featured four of Scotland’s most influential women in the sports journalism industry.

Following the launch of WIJ Scotland’s Sexist Shame of the Beautiful Game campaign a few months ago, Ginny Clark, Scotland’s first female sports editor of a national newspaper, Elizabeth McLaughlin, Sports Journalism Degree Programme Leader at the University of West of Scotland and Press & Journal sports reporter, Sophie Goodwin, discussed their personal experiences of being a female in a male dominated sector and some of the challenges that they have faced as a result.

It was eye-opening to delve deeper into the obstacles preventing women from staying in the industry. Everything from long working weeks and non-existent maternity leave to male dominated, intimidating press boxes and gossiping cliques on pitch side. The panel went on to discuss how things are changing and barriers are slowly being broken down. Knowing that there are strong women in the industry who I can follow is encouraging and gives me hope moving forward.

A short, witty presentation entitled ‘Why data journalism isn’t only for bros’ by Data Content Lead Lesley-Anne Kelly and Special Projects Editor Cheryl Livingstone, both from headline sponsor DC Thomson, gave an outlook on a new approach of teamwork and how to celebrate the successes of everyone involved by giving credit where credit is due. With an all-female team of data journalists, the pair certainly did prove that data journalism is no longer a ‘lads’ domain.

The next panel – Culture Clash: is arts journalism at a crossroads? – was introduced by Director of the V&A Dundee, Leonie Bell, who perfectly articulated the different concepts of culture and set the stage for the speakers. Chaired by arts journalist Anna Burnside, the panel featured arts journalists Claire Sawers and Jan Patience and music writer Arusa Qureshi. Similarly to the sports journalism panel, the speakers discussed the barriers they’ve faced when it comes to budgets and accessibility in arts journalism.

Talking confidence, making room for ambition and WIJ Scotland’s collective voice, co-chairs Gabriella Bennett and Catriona MacPhee reminded us in the first of the speeches that much has changed for the better for women’s equality and that every day we achieve more by working together and empowering each other.

This was followed by WIJ Scotland founders Shelley Jofre and Libby Brooks, who reflected on the achievements of the past five years, proving that you can achieve your goals and become stronger when other women are there to support you.

The final keynote speech before the three-course gala dinner at Tatha, V&A Dundee’s restaurant with wonderful views over the River Tay, needed no introduction. Daily Mirror political editor Pippa Crerar (soon to be Guardian political editor), who is known for breaking scoops on Barnard Castle and the Downing Street ‘partygate scandals’, took the floor by storm making her first ever speech to her peers.

She talked about juggling a successful career with raising children and male colleagues, who are sharing parental duties and leave – a sign of the changing times.

It was an honour to hear how far someone can come both personally and professionally with hard work and determination - helping to pave the way for upcoming, young female journalists - providing political insight, positivity and most of all, optimism for the future.

Women in Journalism Scotland has partnered with Pass the Mic this year to amplify the voices of women of colour in the Scottish media.

Here Juliana da Penha, a freelance journalist from Brazil based in Scotland, writes about the need to embrace migrant and refugee women in the discussions about diversity in the media.

Juliana is founder of Migrant Women Press, an independent digital media focused on women's experiences with migration and displacement. She holds a Bachelor degree in Cultural Studies and Communication and Masters Degree in Human Rights and International Politics.

Fair media coverage will tell diverse stories and, at the same time, guarantee that marginalised voices, such as migrant, refugee and asylum seeker women, will sit at the table during editorial decision making. Migrant women are not only passive sources in the news headlines; they are also skilled journalists and storytellers, with an additional advantage: lived experiences. 

The conflict in Ukraine has highlighted why a respectful, kind and empathetic public narrative around migration is needed. We see families who have been displaced overnight in need of open borders and open minds.

“We need more than single stories which tick a box...we need consistent and fair representation. ”

Migration remains the leading topic in newsrooms in the UK though recently, there has been a clear shift in the media discourse. The apocalyptic narrative of invasion, the spread of fear, anti-immigration rhetoric and a constant misunderstanding about migration and asylum were suddenly replaced by a message of solidarity, and empathy, emphasising the need to welcome and support refugees. Unfortunately, not all refugees receive the same treatment, especially when their skin is dark.

The hysteria and fear created by misinformation in our news have created hostile Westminster immigration policies and caused the deaths of innocent asylum seekers on our shores. Inhumane immigration policies such as the UK Nationality and Borders Bill, criminalising anyone arriving in the UK to claim asylum without a pre-approved claim, raise serious concerns about refugees' human rights. 

The public sentiment separating the "good" and "bad" refugees reveals how structural racism and the immigration system are interrelated oppressing non-European asylum seekers; they are still not welcome in Europe.

Migration experiences are complex and varied: people can be the first, second and third generation of migrants, migrant workers, students, asylum seekers, and refugees. People move to reunite with their families and follow their loved partners. People flee war, persecution, and various types of violence, like gender-based violence and poverty. People run from natural disasters and climate change. People also look for better opportunities and safe places to raise their children.

Migrant and refugee women face different levels of oppression during their journeys, including gender-based violence, racism, and xenophobia. An intersectional approach is essential to understanding the specific issues women from other ethnic groups, sexual orientation, gender identities and women with disabilities might experience during migration and displacement.  

Besides the "feminisation of migration", a term used to demonstrate how since the 1980s, the number of women on the move increased, growing faster than the number of male migrants, the experiences and contribution of migrant women have been largely overlooked in the media.

One of the reasons for the failure of fair media coverage and a constructive narrative around migration is the lack of diversity in the newsrooms. A 2021 NCTJ report on Diversity in Journalism reveals that although more women than men work as journalists (53 per cent compared to 47 per cent), 92 per cent of journalists come from white ethnic groups. Moreover, 90 per cent of journalists were born in the UK, with five per cent from the EU27 and five per cent from the rest of the world. This research is an example of the amount of work still to be done to guarantee diversity in the British media.

“I brought almost ten years of experience as a reporter in my luggage...but could not work in journalism for many years.”

Although we can see more diverse voices, the proportion is still low. Having only a few marginalised voices in the mainstream media reflects on the important lesson the author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie gave us about "The danger of a single story". We need more than single stories which tick a box of diversity; we need consistent and fair representation. 

When I left Brazil, I brought almost ten years of experience as a reporter in my luggage. However, I could not work in the journalism field for many years. It was tough to enter in the industry in Europe for many reasons, such as language barriers and discrimination, which impacted my self-confidence. On the other hand, this experience pushed me to reinvent myself and I understood that I was not alone. So, I decided to create a platform to connect with other migrant women through Journalism and founded Migrant Women Press, an independent digital media focused on women's experiences with migration. 

As a black migrant woman and journalist, I recognise the efforts of women individuals, groups, and organisations to challenge these barriers and open doors for more women like me in mainstream media. I am glad projects such as Pass The Mic exist, as it is changing the media landscape in Scotland, creating spaces for women of colour voices to be heard. 

I celebrate every diverse voice I see in the media, especially women of colour, migrants and refugees. But I also keep in mind a quote found in the book "Crusade for Justice" an autobiography of Ida B. Wells, an African American pioneer in investigative journalism, newspaper editor, educator, anti-lynching, and women's rights advocate: "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty".

In a society built on unequal power structures, bringing diversity to media is an ongoing work in progress. 

Picture credit: Nataliya Zubar

WIJ member Jen Stout is currently reporting from Ukraine, where she has been based since April. Here she shares what she has learned about being a freelancer covering a war.

How do you prepare to cover the war in Ukraine as a freelancer with no experience of conflict zones?

'Just don't go' was the answer I got from many, usually with an added expletive. Going to Ukraine, I was told, would be the most selfish and reckless decision of my life. I gave up on the idea a few times.

To be clear, I don't think anyone should rush in unprepared to this. That is, indeed, selfish and reckless. I've met journalism students who've never done a day's reporting, telling me they were 'going in': no flak jacket, no helmet, no knowledge of Ukraine or any language ability. I told them not to, probably using the same expletives.

I'd spent my whole adult life dreaming of, and trying to, report in Russia and Ukraine, from the age of 16 when I started learning Russian in my Shetland high school, and started reading Anna Politkovskaya's articles. I'd finally got to Moscow in November last year, on a programme for foreigners, and was about to start my stint as a reporter when we had to leave in a hurry. I was glad to go, being of course opposed to the war, the regime and the creeping fascism taking hold there. But I wasn't about to go home.

“‘Just don’t go was the answer I got from many...”

From Vienna I went to the Ukrainian border in Romania, down near the Black Sea where a ferry crosses the Danube. I spent a month there, interviewing the refugees arriving from Odesa and Mykolaiv. And trying every single possible avenue to get the safety training and body armour I needed to go to Ukraine.

There is funding for the (very expensive) training, but to be eligible for the Rory Peck Trust you have to have worked as a freelance for 18 months – continuously. Overall, I've done two and a half years, but not continuous. Accordingly, I was not eligible. I was pulling my hair out when I found a short, London-based version of the course. Flying back to the UK from Romania was not cheap, but the Sunday Post, which I'd been writing for, and WIJ Scotland, helped with the costs, and so by early April I had the training certificate and could do a reasonable job of a tourniquet.

Picture credit: Zhenya Titarenko

The next hurdle was a flak jacket with body armour plates, and a ballistics helmet. Again, I tried everything, emailing every company, every charity. The invasion had of course prompted a massive demand, and prices had shot up. The big media outlets were buying everything up, I was told – freelancers didn't stand a chance. I'm a member of RSF, but they didn't even answer emails. At many points I just despaired of finding anything, but got there in the end, thanks partly to a brilliant Romanian friend who somehow sourced an ex-UN jacket from a contact in Kabul. It came down nearly to my knees, so I couldn't walk (the other big problem - all this kit is invariably 'large male' size and I'm barely 5ft) but I put the plates in a small flak jacket another friend found. These two are Stuart Paver and Marian Machedon, tireless volunteers capable of magicking up impossible items, and both responsible for a huge amount of aid and supplies getting into Ukraine.

It was with one of their deliveries that I got to Odesa, flying through the checkpoints with a military escort. I spent three weeks in this extraordinary city – I'd dreamed of seeing Odesa for so many years and felt incredibly lucky to be there, even if the circumstances were grim. Almost daily rocket attacks began in the city not long after I arrived, and I was there reporting on the devastation afterwards – destroyed apartment blocks, families torn apart, grief and bewilderment and fury. By now I was writing regularly for the Sunday Post, a fantastic paper that deserves huge credit for investing in foreign reporting and paying freelances properly (and promptly). The scorched earth where great newspapers used to stand is a depressing place, and I was told by some once-prestigious titles that they have absolutely no budget for foreign news. Where many papers now rely on rehashed agency copy, the Sunday Post recognises the worth of having reporters on the ground. They should get a lot of credit for that.

From Odesa to Mykolaiv, on to Kharkiv and Kyiv, and soon I'm going to the Donetsk region. Being freelance obviously can be challenging. Costs are high, things like the conflict zone insurance that's totally essential. But I value hugely the freedom to go wherever I choose, to stay longer if it's interesting; to spend an entire day just reading about Kharkiv in the 1920s for a long article, if that's what I fancy doing. I meet TV colleagues who are always dashing about for the next live and don't envy them much; newspaper and radio stories suit me very well.

One of my favourite ways of telling a story is still radio, and doing regular despatches for Radio Scotland's Saturday programme, Radio 4's 'From Our Own Correspondent' and RTE’s World Report has been a real pleasure. I feel with these I can draw people in, help them feel, hear and see what's around me. A lot of these scripts are based on conversations, chance encounters – and little details that stand out when I'm reporting, and want to expand on.

Seeing Ukrainian friends again has given me some of the happiest moments of the last three months – especially in Kharkiv, a city I love so much. They've given me great insight into the context and history and shifting attitudes in the country. Many of them are the activists who've been so integral to helping a small army defend this country since 2014, integral to this huge project of building a Ukrainian civic society and patching up the holes in the state. Under bombing and sirens they've kept up this work, tirelessly, and they're some of the most extraordinary people I've ever met. And then there's the colleagues I've met along the way, both foreign and Ukrainian– an endless source of advice, inspiration and friendship, and sometimes whisky.

Now I'm thinking of going home; three months on the road and I'm starting to loathe my rucksack and to miss Shetland like a physical ache. I've never appreciated before how lucky I am to have a home that is safe. To be able to just leave all this, the sirens and worry and rockets, is a privilege my friends here don't have. I'll come back to Ukraine in the autumn. I hope it's to report on rebuilding and not war, but I suspect it'll be both.

Picture credit: Zhenya Titarenko