Pulitzer Prize Winner, War Correspondent and F1 Commentator Mentoring Lincoln Journalism Students

Student journalists from the University of Lincoln have been paired with some of the biggest names in media – including a Pulitzer Prize winner, a war correspondent and Channel 4’s lead Formula 1 commentator – as part of a new initiative.

Five undergraduates have been hand-picked to be individually mentored by five industry giants through a partnership with the John Schofield Trust journalism charity.

The three second-year and two third-year students will regularly meet their mentors over the next 12 months.

They will visit them at work – with travel fully funded – as well as enjoying regular face-to-face and online meetings. By being part of the JST scheme, the students will also be invited to wider networking events, including at BBC News in central London.

The mentors are: Chris Hughes, award-winning war correspondent with the Daily Mirror; Alex Jacques, Channel 4’s lead Formula 1 commentator; Beth Colson, Pulitzer Prize winning video news producer who has worked for ITN, Sky and BBC; Maurice Hamilton, a motorsport broadcast and print press legend who was the Observer’s Formula 1 correspondent for 20 years; and, Kesewaa Browne, freelance culture journalist most often seen with the BBC

The selection comes after the John Schofield Trust held a launch event at the university at which senior Sky News leader James Scurry and Grantham Journal reporter Daniel Jaines both spoke to more than 60 students.

John Cafferkey, Journalism module leader and Deputy Head of the School of Education and Communication, said: “This is an incredible opportunity for the students selected, providing them with a real chance to gain first-hand expertise and advice from journalists who are at the very top of the industry. If someone like Maurice Hamilton can’t inspire you, you can’t be inspired!

“But more than that, we think this partnership will generate real excitement across the entire cohort by demonstrating that, with the world-class training they receive in our newsrooms, all our students can go on to have sparkling careers.”

Howard Littler, director of the John Schofield Trust, which was founded in 1996, said: “We’re delighted to team up with the University of Lincoln to offer journalism students this unrivalled employability boost.

“We look forward to working with the University to ensure the students make the most of the scheme – and end the year with new contacts in the world of journalism and improved confidence about their next career steps.”

Successful students (l-r): Briony Dack, Kyliegh Lindsay, Millie Johnston and Jack Rossiter