Networking and campaigning group Women in Journalism is launching a mentoring scheme aimed at getting more women into senior editorial positions across print, broadcast and digital media.
Under the scheme, ten female journalists will get the chance to take part in a year-long programme, kicking off with a lunch to meet their mentors in January 2016 The scheme will include at least four face to face meetings across the year. According to WIJ, the scheme is intended to give those who are making the first steps into management more confidence to propel themselves upwards.
Editorial director of the Sunday Times, and chairwoman of WIJ, Eleanor Mills said: "Madeleine Albright says there is a special circle of hell reserved for women who don't help other women. Well at WIj we are committed to extending a welcoming hand to young women entering the profession – I am delighted to launch our mentoring scheme which we hope will formalise that help and boost the chances of the next generation.”
Editor of 5 News Cristina Nicolotti Squires, who is setting up the scheme, said: “At WIJ we’re passionate about encouraging our members to network, develop and grow in their careers because we felt women needed more. 20 years on we’ve made huge strides – but there still aren’t enough of us in charge. The majority of our readers and viewers are women – but the decisions on what they read and see are largely made by men. With this scheme we hope to encourage more women to get to the very top of our business”.
Applications should be made via this website by 1 November 2015.
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