On Tuesday 26 June, Media Trust’s current cohort of Creativity Works: Multimedia Genius trainees blew us away with an unforgettable showcase as they graduated from the programme at a special celebration event.
The location was apt as we took our seats at Oath UK’s head office, home to some of the biggest names in the media industry including Huffington Post and Yahoo! News.
Oath, along with many other industry leaders such as Google, ITN, Channel 4 and the BBC, have all played a huge role in making the 10 week Creativity Works programme possible.
I honestly feel as though it’s really helped transform my life.
Shanara, Graduate
Throughout the first six weeks, our trainees attended media-related masterclasses facilitated by top-class media professionals from these very organisations. Each week followed a different media-theme, such as: photography, digital media, journalism, TV and radio. During which, the participants learnt the nuts and bolts of each area and got the chance to apply their new skills with regular content creation tasks and opportunities.
Shanara and Ben talk about their experience of the programme at Tuesday's graduation event.
The final four weeks were spent focusing on employability skills. Each young person was paired with a media professional who provided 1-2-1 career mentoring and coaching.
It was clear to see the impact the programme, which is supported by Mayor’s Fund for London and Berkeley Foundation, has had on our 35 young graduates as they shared their experiences to a packed room of mentors, masterclass-leaders, funders, peers and parents at Tuesday night’s ceremony. Many graduates fought back tears as they described what a positive effect the scheme had on their lives.
Graduate Shanara said: “Prior to Creativity Works I was unemployed for a number of months and struggling to find work in the media industry. I was told that the Prince’s Trust were running a radio course so I attended and through that, I was then introduced to Creativity Works and I honestly feel as though it’s really helped transform my life.”
For graduate Ben, the programme has enabled him to see the vast number of opportunities that are available to him: “The masterclasses have broadened my horizons to other different job roles within the media industry such as marketing and advertising, photography, TV and filming, as well as creating brief campaigns for Elvis Communications and Primesight.”
Simran and Zahraa with Michael Dapaah and Jasmine Dotiwala on their shoot for Channel 4 News
The audience were wowed by some of the experiences the graduates shared. While trainees on the programme, Zahraa and Simran were invited to film second camera for Jasmine Dotiwala’s Channel 4 news piece with Michael Dapaah. Meanwhile Francia and Mike described how it felt to take part in a televised debate about Stephen Lawrence and the 25 years since his death, for BBC Three.
By the end of the course, I felt like getting in the media industry was closer than ever before for me, especially when I was paired with my mentor, Nick.
Helin, Graduate
Graduate Helin who was paired with mentor Nick Petche, the Editor in chief of Yahoo! News spoke about what having a mentor like Nick has meant to her:
By the end of the course, I felt like getting in the media industry was closer than ever before for me, especially when I was paired with my mentor, Nick. I spent the final couple of weeks of the Creativity Works programme with my mentor focusing on my CV and cover letter, as well as applying for opportunities. Thanks to him I picked up a lot of new journalism-related knowledge and direction in terms of my career which was very helpful.
She continued: “At the moment, I’m still on the hunt for a job but I can definitely say, I am more confident applying for them now than I was before Media Trust.”
Our graduates are now busy applying for jobs and attending interviews. A number of them have already found jobs, work experience and opportunities within the media industry at companies including: Oath UK, Russia Today, Westside FM and Shoreditch Radio.
For this talented group of go-getters, the future is looking positive. We couldn’t be more proud of them all and cannot wait to watch them progress in their careers.
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