Media Trust & News UK’s Reframing Disability Mentoring Programme

Media Trust and News UK have partnered to deliver this new mentoring programme for disabled talent within the media industry.

The newest iteration of our Reframing Disability mentoring helps to move the dial on the representation of disabled talent in roles in the UK news industry by matching 10 Disabled and/or Neurodivergent mentees at an entry-level or early career stage with 10 senior mentors from across News UK.

This programme continues our work to ensure the media and creative industry becomes more receptive to and representative of disabled talent, aligning with News UK’s newly established Disability Network, formed following the creation of the Disability & Journalism Forum in March 2022. A second conference is to run in December 2023 with News UK supporting again.

The mentoring programme harnesses the knowledge and skills of 10 inspiring senior mentors from across News UK’s brands to support the disabled journalistic talent. Mentors and mentees will be matched and work one-on-one throughout the six-month virtual programme. The experience will provide both mentees and mentors with personal and professional development opportunities. Mentees and mentors will be brought together for our monthly mentoring circles including webinars, panels, and skill-enhancement workshops, all co-produced by the mentee group.

Applications for the programme open in mid-February, followed by a series of weekly group induction sessions in April and monthly mentoring meetings from May to September. This will culminate in a graduation celebration at the end of September.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 11.59PM SUNDAY 2 APRIL

If you are disabled and/or neurodivergent, at an entry-level or early career stage within news, and would like to express your interest in being mentored as part of this programme please complete the form below.

Mentee application

If you currently work for News UK, or as a freelancer, please complete the form below or get in touch directly with [email protected].

Mentor application

The structure and content of this programme will be adjusted for accessibility, including but not limited to, BSL interpretation, live captioning, resources in other formats etc. News UK & Media Trust are also offering bursaries to support mentees with any further personal access needs to participate in the programme. These could be the cost of caring cover if you have caring responsibilities or the cost of appropriate support if you have a physical or mental health condition. Since the programme will be delivered online, if you need financial assistance to pay for enhanced mobile/WiFi connectivity, headphones, webcams etc, please let us know. 

In partnership with:

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Our Corporate Partners

We enjoy outstanding support from the media industry. Our partners include: