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

Are you an early to mid-career journalist in Scotland looking to develop your practice?

Do you have specific goals you want to reach or challenges you’d like to overcome?

Women in Journalism Scotland can help.

Our mentoring scheme has supported more than 100 women journalists of all ages and backgrounds to date, from beats as diverse as politics and investigations to travel, food and drink, arts, health, sport, local news, digital, data, opinion and tech.

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

The 2025 programme will draw on the knowledge and experience of a pool of experienced women journalist mentors. Successful applicants will be paired with a journalist mentor based on their specialism / goals.

Mentees will receive:

• Twelve career development sessions

• An introductory online workshop guiding them through what to expect from the mentoring year

• A mentoring meet-up at BBC Scotland HQ with wine and snacks, where they will get to know other mentees and mentors and network with BBC Scotland journalists

• Invitations to events hosted throughout the year by Women in Journalism Scotland

Our mentors for 2025 include:

Laura Kuenssberg, presenter of BBC One’s flagship interview show

Louise Gray, award-winning food and environment journalist / author

Jean Johansson, presenter of Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun

Heather Dewar, sports journalist / columnist at the Scottish Daily Mail

Laura Boyd, entertainment reporter for STV News and What’s On Scotland

Kirsty Wark, presenter at BBC Scotland / BBC One

Gabriella Bennett, head of mentoring at Women in Journalism Scotland, said: “This is an invaluable opportunity for up-and-coming women journalists to have their careers shaped by some of the best in the business..

“We urge applicants to have clearly defined goals in mind when they apply”.

How to apply

To apply to have your media career shaped by this opportunity, fill in the below application form by December 18 2024.

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.

FAQ

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 an early to mid-career journalist as someone who feels they still have space to grow in their career and has specific goals they feel a mentor could help with. We would particularly urge journalists who have lost confidence or career direction to apply.

Boosting the number of women of colour journalists and women sports journalists in Scotland 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.

What successful applicants will receive

A year’s mentoring with an established women journalist with sessions conducted either in person or on Zoom

An invite to an introductory mentoring workshop and an in-person mentoring social at BBC Scotland’s HQ

The chance to connect with other mentees on the scheme through via Discord or WhatsApp

Career development, opportunities and guidance from Women in Journalism Scotland

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 late December. Unsuccessful applicants will be provided with feedback.

WIJ Scotland’s Anna Burnside (second right) and Catriona Stewart (right) took part in a panel discussion at the Women in Media Belfast summit.

Pictures: Connor McKernan, courtesy of QUB and Women in Media Belfast

Women in Journalism Scotland was on tour last week as co-chair Anna Burnside and vice-chair Catriona Stewart joined Women in Media Belfast for the organisation’s inspiring Partnership Summit.

The themes of the Northern Ireland event were connection, collaboration and empowerment - and the mixture of expert panels and guest speakers in Queen’s University Belfast’s Great Hall certainly met the brief.

Anna and Catriona, alongside PA’s Westminster reporter Claudia Savage, were interviewed by the BBC’s Claire Graham for a panel on the future of media, which became a wide-ranging discussion about the threat of AI to journalists’ jobs, working from home, equal pay, the Twitter/X mob, and whether TikTok is still for the youth.

Attendee Kate Jackson, who is a digital media assistant at Volunteer Now, posted about the event on LinkedIn, giving her key takeaways from a day that looked at the “unique challenges and contributions” of women in the media industry.

She wrote: “The Future of Media panel discussed the evolving landscape of audience connection, highlighting that TikTok isn't just for a “young” audience anymore—everyone’s there. 

“Catriona Stewart challenged us to consider whether reporters should embrace their roles as visible personalities. A reminder that the industry is evolving, and so should we.”

The day had begun with a powerful contribution from a panel hosted by Susan McKay, Ireland’s Press Ombudsman. A journalist with a prolific background, Susan asked Jilly Beattie, outgoing features editor for The Mirror in Ireland, about ethical journalism. They were joined by Joanne Dorrian, a missing persons advocate of the Let’s Find Lisa Dorrian campaign. 

Lisa went missing in February 2005 and her family had to rapidly learn how to both deal with unwelcome media intrusion and use the press to their advantage in trying to bring Lisa home. Joanne spoke movingly of the family’s struggle while Jilly described building a bridge with the Dorrians after a distressing headline ran in The Mirror. 

It was a masterclass of using compassion as a vital tool in ethical journalism, rather than seeing empathy and care as weaknesses. 

Barbara McCann - an unstoppable powerhouse of a woman - received the longest round of applause from her speech on overcoming imposter syndrome and fighting to be taken seriously in the industry. She was utterly inspirational.   

As well as panels covering women in sport reporting and in fashion journalism, other speakers included QUB Professor Gabriela Matthews, who spoke powerfully on the role of journalism in war zones. Aisling Cannon, a Queen’s University student, co-founded QUB’s Walkie Talkie Girlies society and told the conference how she and a friend set up the society last year to tackle women’s fears of walking alone at night.

The society has become a roaring success - bolstered by the power of coverage in the local press - and its Pink Project will see Belfast City Hall lit up in pink to raise awareness about ending violence against women.

It was impossible to listen to the insightful, sharp and powerful stories from the women taking part and not be inspired to keep on pushing for change and progress in the industry, to tell powerful stories in the way only women can and to spend more time in the company of what Anna likes to call “top birds”. 

Clockwise from top left: Rebecca Smith; Chlöe Smith; Magdalena Grzymkowska-Chuchra; Nicola Love and Eve Livingston.

Women in Journalism Scotland (WiJS) and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have announced the recipients of the 2024 WiJS x JRF bursary programme. 

Five women journalists have been chosen by a panel of judges to receive £1,500 to develop a project shining a light on economic and / or social inequalities around Scotland.

The funding will support the successful applicants over the remainder of 2024 as they work up their projects from an idea stage to a developed pitch ready to be taken to a publication, or launched independently, by the end of the year.

The successful journalists are: Rebecca Smith, Chlöe Smith, Nicola Love, Eve Livingston and Magdalena Grzymkowska-Chuchra. 

Rebecca will be working on her second non-fiction book proposal focussing on the loss of forest culture and how important timber is to society, past, present and future.

Chlöe’s project will investigate migrant destitution, with a focus on the experience of undocumented migrants in Scotland.

Nicola is focussing on how seriously Scotland is taking women's reproductive health rights, with a wider look at how the cost of living crisis has affected family planning.

Eve aims to build on her previous reporting of Glasgow city council’s women’s strike and subsequent equal pay actions. 

Magdalena’s investigation will focus on migrant women who have recently given birth in Scotland and the financial struggle, social isolation and intersectional discrimination they face

Part of the bursary programme involves working with an established woman journalist who will provide support for each applicant’s project. 

Providing mentoring for the programme this year will be Cal Flyn, Judith Duffy, Pennie Taylor, Shona Gossip and Nicki McCourt. 

This opportunity was aimed at early to mid-career freelance women journalists who believe they still have room to grow in their careers. Applicants must also have experienced economic inequality at some stage in their lives.

Anna Burnside, co chair of Women in Journalism Scotland, said: “We are so excited to support this amazing range of women as they pursue original, in depth journalism. I can’t wait to see what they all produce.”

Chris Birt, director at the JRF, said: “It’s fantastic to see this second year of the bursary taking off with another group of talented women journalists. It will be fascinating to see how they bring their skills and work with their mentors to deliver on such a fascinating mix of important issues. It is a crucial time to have high quality journalism from diverse voices and we are glad to support this project.”

Georgia Edkins, 29, began her journalism career as a trainee on the Daily Mail graduate scheme in London. Following a secondment to Scotland, where she worked at the Mail on Sunday, she moved back to London to take up the position of Whitehall Correspondent. 

In January 2023 she returned to Scotland, becoming Scottish Political Editor at the Mail on Sunday, where she brought in a series of high-profile scoops and splashes. She won four awards at this week’s Scottish Press Awards: Political Journalist of the Year, Scoop of the Year, Reporter of the Year and the highly coveted Journalist of the Year. 

In a Q&A, Georgia tells us about her big wins, imposter syndrome, campervans and spaniels. 

Picture credit: Andy Barr

How was 2023 for you work-wise? 

It was very busy. When I first moved up it was quite clear that the SNP were starting to factionalise. That wasn't too obvious from the outside: I did a story about SNP MSPs who had gathered in an Edinburgh restaurant and started to discuss whether Nicola Sturgeon was the right person to lead the party. Those voices were starting to get stronger, so it was an amazing time to be in Scotland, as the iron-fisted rule of the SNP began to unravel.  I felt grateful to be part of it and I have always felt as if Scotland is home - my granny is from Aberdeen. 

The SNP investigation started to heat up and the campervan story was part of that. Although we don’t know the outcome of that investigation it felt like a seismic time in Scottish politics. 

Personally, however, it was a really difficult year. I was in hospital for two months with a health issue. I was able to win these awards because of my colleagues supporting me to work at the rate I was. I am learning every day from those colleagues. I suffer quite a lot from imposter syndrome. I'm surrounded by incredible journalists in the lobby, some of the best in the country and the UK. There’s a funny feeling where you think: “Do I deserve this?”, but you have to take the wins as they come. 

Tell us how your SNP campervan scoop came to be?

There had been rumours swirling for some time in Holyrood that a vehicle might have been part of the police investigation. I put my reporter hat on: I’m political editor but I love getting out and about. I don’t spend my time in the lobby and press gallery - I prefer to be a proper reporter on the ground. It was old school door knocking until I got what I needed. It is a good lesson for young journalists coming up - social media can be a great source of stories but we write for human beings and we depend on speaking to human beings. 

How did you feel the day before the story broke?

I didn’t know the story would be that big. We treated it as we would any other story, with the same attention and care. It was only when the front pages went out at about 10pm that there was an instant response on social media and the comparison with Breaking Bad. It was when it became memeified that I realised it had penetrated the public consciousness. I am probably quite a boring journalist in that I don’t chase the buzz, I chase the story. 

What are the ingredients of a good story?

Number one it has to have human interest. People have to understand it and it must be about people. With politics it can be easy to stray into the granular detail of process and policy. That has its place, but I set myself the task of asking what impact will that policy have on readers, and how can I translate that? 

One of the mistakes the SNP has made with the Michael Matheson [iPad bill scandal] story is that they say it is a bubble story [that only journalists care about]. But hard-working people know if they had taken £11,000 from their employer there would be deep consequences. Knowing Michael Matheson would get away with it riles people up and creates a divide between politicians and the public. It is unjust. So the story has to resonate with real people.

In terms of what ingredients make good journalism more generally, then working against injustice. Recently I have been working with a colleague in London on an autism campaign. It is Victorian that autistic people are locked away and are not part of the community because [local authorities] don't have the funds. I have a relative with autism: the idea that they would be in an institution is abhorrent. Take away the job title and I am Georgia who has friends and family. I am not writing for me, I am writing for readers, but of course you are influenced by your own experiences in life.

Finally, my former news editor Andy Beavan used to say that as long as a story has humans or animals then we’re fine. In the first piece I had published aged 21 I managed to get spaniels and genocide in the intro. He said that was the perfect recipe.

How do you wind down from breaking a big story?

I do a lot of meditation. And I spend time with friends who are supportive and have nothing to do with journalism! 

How do you build contacts? 

I don’t have any fear in that regard - I will ask to meet contacts for coffee or lunch. That can be a big hurdle for some journalists but if you don’t ask you don’t get. Some days you might be rejected but then you might get a contact for life. I make sure [my relationship with contacts] is not wholly transactional. I really care about them and their lives and hopefully they care about mine. I understand if something goes wrong - the number of people I’ve spoken to who support independence, for instance, and I say I’m sorry this is happening and I know it’s not great for you. I try my best to be as open and kind as possible. It is just as important to nurture contacts and it is to get them. 

After a story has gone it takes seconds to message someone to thank them for their time. As journalists we are nothing without our sources and the people who trust us to investigate what they think is important. 

What advice would you give young journalists looking to get into the industry? 

Whatever the universities say, learn shorthand! I use it every day. Learn how to drive - I know there's a financial pressure there, but a number of newspapers require it. Social media is a treasure trove but our role as journalists has slightly shifted over time to be fact checkers, so it is our job to ensure what we write is correct and true. You need to stand everything up. 

Don’t neglect speaking to real people. Some of my best stories have come in that way. The industry has changed - turnaround time is now tighter - but if you take the time to speak to someone and engage with them properly then stories will come naturally. Have faith: if you know something is a really good story but you’ve got 10 more stories to turn around that day then politely ask your editor if you can take some time to work on the good one. Those big stories that need more time are so important - and they're everywhere - but we need the time to approach them. I think any editor would be impressed by someone asking to take time for a real story. 

Know yourself and what your values are and keep checking in with yourself. Our industry is fast paced, exciting and exhilarating, but make sure you put in the time to nurture yourself. 

****UPDATE: The deadline for applications has been extended until end of Friday June 14 2024 and students are now eligible to apply to the bursary programme***

Women in Journalism Scotland and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have launched the second year of their 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 a project from idea stage to a developed pitch ready to be taken to a publication (newspaper / broadcaster / online resource etc) 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 funding will support successful applicants over a three month period in 2024. We expect all projects to be pitched to editors by October.

Heather Dewar, co-chair of Women in Journalism Scotland, said: “This bursary scheme provides an invaluable level of support to women journalists who often struggle with the financial pressures of long-term projects.

“The funding allows them to work at a pace which aligns with their desired goals and other life commitments and gives them the space to investigate their subject matter in a thorough, concise manner.

“We know from past experience how beneficial this support has been for our journalists, and we hope to see that continuing in the future, as the bursary scheme progresses.”

Chris Birt, associate director for Scotland for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “This bursary is crucial at a time when so many people across Scotland are struggling in face of hardship and inequality.

“In that context it is crucial that stories are told and solutions found to the challenges that people face and this bursary, along with the support of a mentor, will support more women journalists to do so.

“Powerful journalism drives change and I’m excited to see the outputs from this year’s successful applicants.”

PROJECTS CONSIDERED

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

• Investigations

• Features

• Documentaries

• Radio productions

• Podcasts

• Travel writing

• Interviews

• 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 if required

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

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.

The bursary will be delivered in two instalments throughout 2024.

WHEN IS THE DEADLINE?

The deadline has been extended to the end of Friday 14 June 2024.

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

• Why you are eligible

3. If you are submitting a broadcast/radio/podcast proposal, please send a one minute 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.

The winners of the 44th Scottish Press Awards. Picture by Andrew Barr - andybarr.com

The shortlist for the 45th Scottish Press Awards has been announced, with many of our members being recognised for their outstanding work in the past year. 
With 121 finalists in 26 categories featuring a mix of several long-standing award titles alongside a range of new-look categories, the judges received a flood of entries, representing the finest talent from across the industry.
WiJ Scotland is sponsor of the Nicola Barry Award, which is open to all women journalists of any age working in print and online media in Scotland deserving of recognition for their work in issue-led reportage or commentary.Shortlisted this year are:

• Heather Dewar, Scottish Daily Mail

• Karin Goodwin, The Ferret

• Helen Puttick, The Times Scotland/Sunday Times Scotland

• Marion Scott, The Sunday Post

• Margaret Taylor, Holyrood

The awards ceremony and dinner will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central on May 29. Best wishes to everyone shortlisted for 2024.
The full shortlist can be found here and more information about the awards is here.

By Julia Benko

“Sometimes I don’t promote my work at all because of the abuse it will generate.”

It’s no longer uncommon for women to be succeeding in the world of journalism. But what is still all too frequent is that they are target of abuse and harassment - often aimed at their appearance or gender.

That’s been the experience of  Jane Hamilton, a Scottish crime reporter, who said she once had to take redundancy partly due to online abuse.

She said: “Since [the start of] social media, harassment has been a regular occurrence. This has ranged from rapists stalking me because of stories about them, angry campaigners targeting me because they did not like my stories and football fans [being] furious because of stories about their team.

“Sometimes I don’t promote my work at all because of the abuse it will generate.

“Just recently there have been slurs against my age, my weight, my appearance and using filters on my profile pictures, [which] I don’t. Men usually attack women’s appearance or their gender [and say] I must be prostituting myself for stories or [that] I am a police ‘bike’.

“Men do not get targeted in this way.”

Jane (pictured right) also said that in the newsroom she had “encountered male journalists who said crime is a man’s job and women should do light-hearted features, such as make-up and fashion.”

A 52-year-old freelance journalist, who preferred to remain anonymous, told how she was once stalked by a male musician she critiqued for a review the year prior.

“[He] cornered me in the bar [of a jazz festival] once everyone had gone back to their seats. He leaned right into my face and said something along the lines of: ‘I'd better never see you at one of my gigs again…’

“What angered me was the fact that he had never written to me to complain, or to my editor; he just launched into this verbal attack when he managed to get me cornered. He would not have done this if I had been a male critic, I’m sure.

“My editor took it seriously and he took it to the overall editor, but in the end the guy simply denied it and they felt they couldn't take it any further.”

In 2023, Women in Journalism completed a research report on the online harms committed against women working in the media. 403 women participated, all based in the UK.

From this sample, 75 per cent said they had experienced a threat to their safety during their work. Almost half declared they publicised their work less online due to the threat of online abuse, and nearly 20 per cent said the threat of online mistreatment had made them consider leaving the media industry.

It was also noted by multiple participants that references about their age were layered into the online abuse, and that hate speech, retaliation and personal comments were the most reported problems in the past year.

"Don’t feel ashamed if you need extra help.”

The report also exposed that nearly half of the respondents said they had faced misogynistic harm or abuse connected to their gender or gender identity.

In their research, Women in Journalism concluded that without any staff support, there is a “real risk that women working in journalism will leave their roles or choose to fade into the background online.”

“There is still significant work to be done to make spaces safer for women working in journalism.”

Meanwhile a Statista report depicting the distribution of journalists in the UK between 2016 and 2022 shows that more men have been employed as journalists than women. 2020 is the only year that marks a change from this trend; 53 per cent of journalists employed were women and 47 per cent were men.

In all of the places Jane has worked more recently, she said “there have been a large number of women”, including in senior and specialist positions.

The freelance journalist this has changed since she started working in the industry in the early to mid 1990s, when “the [work] culture was different”.

“We were just used to men dominating the workplace and having the senior positions and most of the women we saw were secretaries,” she said,

“There are more women [journalists] now than when I first started.”

But her advice for those women journalists who do face abuse and harassment is not to “suffer in silence”.

She said: “Seek out colleagues and let your employer know what is happening. Make sure your safety is a number one priority.

"Don’t feel ashamed if you need extra help.”

Julia Benko: https://twitter.com/julessbenko

Pictures: Laura A Tiliman

WIJ Scotland recently held a networking evening in Edinburgh for the first time - here’s the rundown on the event from committee member Rachael Revesz:

There are no two ways to say it – our inaugural Edinburgh networking event was a cracker. 

Held at Johnnie Walker Princes Street, in the glam Explorers Bothy Bar, 50 women were treated to whisky-based cocktails and mocktails, and a delicious variety of canapes.

Once we’d settled in, our co-chair Anna Burnside gave a rousing speech about the need to make new connections, given so many of us are now working from home. With the use of a cocktail shaker and a stirrer, Anna managed to keep our attention long enough to instruct us regarding the next stage of the evening – the speed networking event.

Our venue was set up perfectly for this activity, with lots of little round tables and booths. What was noticeable was the diversity of the crowd, in terms of age, background, and current status – we had women who were still studying, to those with children who were looking to return to journalism after a decade-long career break. It was also a great opportunity for some of the WIJ mentors to meet our new mentees for 2024.

During a refreshment break, Diageo’s senior bartender, Lucinda Parry, gave us a fun demo of the Elderberry and Sumac drink she was making – recipe below.

Cardhu 12

Cocchi Americano

Sumac Cordial (Made in house)

Aelder Elixir (From Buck and Birch)

Miraculously, as Lucinda spoke, we were served with the actual thing, garnished with a Red Vein Sorrel leaf. And it was delicious.

Once the speed networking was over, the cocktail shaker could be put to rest.

As our fellow committee member Jan Patience commented, ‘The speed networking was a laugh, especially with Anna banging her cocktail tin to get everyone to move on. I was so busy gassing. And yet I feel I hardly spoke to anyone!’

Understandable, given the event was sold out!

Next stop: the group photo. Our photographer Laura Tiliman did a cracking job, making sure all attendees were in the frame.

By this point, everyone was warmed up and fully socialised, and we could chat to other attendees at leisure. Some of us were so keen to stay and chat that we were almost herded out with a broom, just after 10pm. If only the public bar across the lobby had been open, I’m sure the night would have continued!

By Heather Dewar, WiJ Scotland co-chair

A new year beckons, as the snow fades and stockings lie limp beneath the tree.

2023 is almost at an end.

For some, it has been a year to celebrate: for others, it is a year that has brought grief, pain and uncertainty. 

As I write this, I’m painfully aware that the world around us is changing at a remarkable rate. The growth of digital and of AI, in particular, will likely continue to erode the traditional landscape so often associated with the world of journalism. 

While it is incumbent upon us to embrace this change and the opportunity it brings, it’s important to remember, too, the journalistic values at the core of everything we create. As technology evolves, it's vital that we fiercely protect this.

Truth, integrity, passion, insight and commitment - they are part of who we are and who we must remain, whatever the dynamic of the new world order.

These are the values of WiJ Scotland  - an organisation that continues to grow and empower women across the country, whatever their background, whatever their ambitions in the trade.

Over the last year we have focused yet again on our incredible mentoring scheme, which pairs aspiring journalists with mentors from across the land. We want to thank each and every one of our mentors for taking the time to  inspire others and for holding a hand out to the women who come behind them.

 In 2023, we had an incredible 42 pairings - and we hope this success continues as we look ahead to 2024. It really is an opportunity to learn from the best and to get to grips with what's required in an often cut-throat industry. 

This form of collaboration is central to what we do - and we were delighted to see a new association come our way in 2023, with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.  The inaugural WiJS x JRF bursary saw five women awarded £1500 to develop a project that shone a light on economic or social inequalities around Scotland. 

Given the current cost of living crisis, the programme was seen as a terrific opportunity to eliminate some of the financial hurdles that come one's way while working on long-form journalism. 

Chris Burt, associate director for Scotland at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said:  "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."

We hope that those who have taken part in the programme have received a real and tangible benefit -  and we look forward to seeing their work in the near future. We are thrilled, meanwhile, that the programme will continue in 2024 with another talented bunch of individuals.

Elsewhere, we have worked hard to bring fellow journalists a variety of events that touch on subjects so often misunderstood in the media.

 We asked whether Scottish media employers were doing enough to support those going through the menopause.

 'Working Through the Menopause' saw TV supremo Kirsty Wark telling it like it is as our special guest in September.

 Wark, who made the taboo-busting documentary 'The Menopause and Me' back in 2017, has navigated her own way through the change, while working as one of the UK's top TV journalists. 

Thanks to Kirsty and to Shelley Joffre, BBC Scotland's Editor of Long Form Journalism, for hosting the Q and A at BBC Pacific Quay.

Over the year, we touched, too, on issues around class, in the superb 'We Need to Talk About Class: A Women in Journalism Scotland panel talk'. For the first time, we looked at an event that addressed the challenges and opportunities that working class female journalists face on a regular basis.

Held at the iconic Glasgow Women's Library, it explored the class dynamics in Scottish journalism and beyond - shining a light on the hidden hurdles working class journalists come up against in their careers.

The panel  - made up of award-winning writer and columnist Dani Gararvelli, Jen Stout and Dayna McAlpine - made for a superb listen and we truly hope that attendees left with renewed understanding and insight into the challenges so many women continue to face.

In terms of online events, perhaps one of the most powerful sessions of the year focused on 'Reporting violence against women.' It looked at some of the most difficult subjects we often have to cover. Based on a workshop format, the event covered all the issues that journalists need to understand in order to do justice to these important stories. 

Jo Zawadkza from Zero Tolerance set the scene, while Claire Thomson from Rape Crisis Scotland was on hand to talk about sexual violence and the new justice bill. Nyla Khan from Universal Truth, meanwhile, spoke about the importance of including the voices of victim-survivors and how to work with charities and campaign groups in this area. It's a part of journalism that is rarely spoken about, and we are proud to continue our work in this field.

Across 2023, we also celebrated the work of female journalists throughout Scotland at the annual Scottish Press Awards.

Congratulations once again to the inimitable Marion Scott of The Sunday Post, who walked away with the Nicola Barry Award, sponsored by WIJS. Scott made it a hat-trick on the night by also picking up the Reporter of the Year and the Scoop of the Year awards.

A huge congratulations to all the other women who either won or were nominated for their work. It really does reflect the passion, commitment and enormous dedication being shown by so many women across Scotland, who continue to break boundaries.

Celebrating achievements and lifting women up is an important part of what we do at WiJ Scotland. We have enjoyed more social events in 2023, and we hope to bring you more of these in 2024. Please do get in touch with any ideas you might have for these in the future.

Our Winter Social event saw our highest ever attendance - and we were delighted to raise   £500 on the night.

The Summer Social, meanwhile, was held in the fantastic Ferret newsroom and saw £400 raised for the work of the organisation. This was also the venue for an FOI masterclass, brilliantly hosted by Karin Goodwin, back in February.

We also staged another broadcast media training workshop with the BBC - this time in Inverness - as part of our long-standing efforts to redress the gender imbalance in Scottish media output.

This marked the first time WiJ Scotland has offered an event in Gaelic. Around 15 media commentators, print journalists and experts were put through their paces by the BBC team in Inverness.

 Later in the year, our redundancy workshop was attended by 56 people, with the event made available for free, for anyone who wishes to watch back. We hope it has helped many others in their time of need.

As we look ahead now to another year, we should continue to thank those who ply their trade in the industry. We actively welcome new members and are always interested in the views of others, as we continue to grow WiJ Scotland.

Thank you to each and every one of you who has given your time over the last year. None of it would have been possible without our attendees, our amazing committee and of course, our event sponsors. 

Let's hope 2024 is one to remember - bringing peace, gratitude and success to all.

Women in Journalism Scotland has launched the fourth 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 build contacts and grow in confidence.
The 2024 programme will draw on the knowledge and experience of a pool of experienced women journalist mentors. Successful applicants will be paired with a journalist mentor based on their specialism and goals.
Our mentors for 2024 include:

• Marion Scott, chief reporter at the Sunday Post and Scotland’s Journalist of the Year

• Laura Kuenssberg, presenter of the BBC’s flagship interview show on Sunday mornings on BBC One

• Jean Johansson, presenter of Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun and reporter for BBC’s The One Show

• Cal Flyn, author and journalist based in Orkney, and contributor to Granta, National Geographic, The Guardian and The Sunday Times

• Kirsty Wark, presenter at the BBC

• Laura Boyd, entertainment reporter for STV News and What’s On Scotland

Commenting on the launch, Women in Journalism Scotland head of mentoring Gabriella Bennett said: “Our scheme has gone from strength to strength since 2021 and we’ve now helped more than 100 early-to-mid career journalists.

“Mentoring is a two-way street and our mentors tell us the process has given them a confidence boost, too. For mentees it is an invaluable way to make contacts and break into the industry. 

“Our mentors for 2024 covers beats as diverse as politics, investigations, travel, food and drink, arts, health, sport, local news, digital, data, opinion and tech. We urge applicants to think carefully about their application and have clear goals in advance”. 

A WIJ Scotland mentor and mentee talk about their experiences of the programme

How to apply

To apply to have your media career shaped by this opportunity, fill in the below application form by December 22 2023.

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. 

FAQ

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.

What successful applicants will receive

• A year’s mentoring with an established women journalist

• An invite to an introductory mentoring workshop and an in-person mentoring social at BBC Scotland’s HQ

• The chance to connect with other mentees on the scheme through via Discord 

• Career development and opportunities from Women in Journalism Scotland

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 early January. Unsuccessful applicants will be provided with feedback.

Photo from A Thousand words' commissioned by Scottish Womens Aid and Zero Tolerance. Copyright Laura Dodsworth

How do we report violence against women appropriately and effectively? That’s the question WIJ Scotland’s latest workshop set out to answer. 

Or at least start to answer - everyone involved agreed this is a huge subject and something that WIJ Scotland may well return to and develop.

The speakers were Jo Zawadza from Zero Tolerance, Claire Thomson from Rape Crisis Scotland and Nyla Khan from Universal Truth. Chair was former WIJ Scotland chair Cat McPhee, who is currently working on a documentary in this area.

Zero Tolerance and Rape Crisis Scotland are the two organisations journalists would turn to for help with a story about violence against women. The former is a campaigning and policy organisation while the second also offers frontline support to women.

Universal Truth was set up by Khan to support women who are victims of forced marriage.

The session covered a lot of ground. There is a whole list of resources below for further reading. But some key takeaways for journalists covering these stories are:

• When you write or broadcast a story about violence against women, remember there will be victims reading or watching.

• Always signpost support agencies. Your article or broadcast might bring back memories of historic abuse, or prompt someone to report what happened to them.

• Be aware of how important language is. Rape isn’t something that happens - it’s something that is done by someone else. The perpetrator chose how to act. Using the passive voice can make it sound inevitable and depersonalise the crime.

• Watch out for victim blaming such as references to what someone wore, how much she drank and so on.

• Avoid using issues such as the perpetrator’s alcohol and drug use or mental health as excuses. These can escalate a situation but they are not the cause.

• When working with case studies, be aware of what a huge thing you are asking them to do. Make sure they are aware of where their story will be used, will it be online, will it be shared across an outlet’s different platforms.

• Be very aware of the dangers of jigsaw identification. For example, by describing someone’s clothing or jewellery it might be possible for a small community to work out who it is.

An online recording of the workshop is available to buy - please contact wijscotland@gmail.com

Resources and further reading:

Rape Crisis Scotland helpline details for signposting:

Helpline open 5pm - midnight every night

Helpline phone support: 08088 01 03 02

Helpline email support: support@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk

Helpline text support: 07537 410 027 (our text number will show bills)

Helpline webchat support: www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk

Zero Tolerance advice for journalists, helplines  and free stock images https://www.zerotolerance.org.uk/work-journalists/

Level UP's guidance on reporting domestic homicides:

https://www.welevelup.org/media-guidelines/#:~:text=Homicides%20are%20usually%20underpinned%20by,the%20victim's%20family%20or%20police.

Expert organisations that can be contacted for comment (including Pass the Mic - database of women of colour commentators in Scotland): https://www.zerotolerance.org.uk/expert-organisations/

Rape Crisis Scotland article, How to report sexual assault trials responsibly, by Brenna Jessie and Karen Boyle: https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/news/how-to-report-sexual-assault-trials-responsibly/

By Chloe Gardener 

Until very recently, menopause was treated with secrecy. If talked about at all it would be in hushed whispers; or, at the other end of the spectrum, comedians would poke fun at “the change”. 

Which is rather odd, considering every woman - or anyone with a uterus for that matter - will experience menopause at some time or other.

And while the severity of physical and psychological symptoms differs from person to person, both day-to-day life and work is likely to be affected.  

So what support do our media employers offer employees going through what can be a difficult time?

Trade unions and the Scottish government publish guidance on how companies should write their menopause policies, but ultimately, it’s up to individual companies.

Reach offers an online meeting space for employees to speak openly about menopause, and even has an app to track mood and manage stress. 

Channel 4 has flexible working arrangements including paid leave for employees feeling unwell with their menopause symptoms, as well as access to a cool and well-ventilated working environment with support available for anyone that needs it. 

BBC Scotland’s policy advocates for making reasonable arrangements and also offers flexibility for working arrangements, plus monthly menopause groups where people can talk and share their experiences. 

Newsquest uses inclusive language; specifically mentioning that transgender men, nonbinary and intersex people may also experience menopause symptoms, whilst also offering working adjustments similar to the BBC and Channel 4. 

Rachel Weiss, chairperson of the Menopause Café

News UK promises to cover the costs of NHS HRT medication for their employees as well as offering support from Occupational Health consultants, with the same sort of working flexibility as the other companies mentioned.

But is this enough?

I spoke to Rachel Weiss, chairperson of the Menopause Café charity – which aims to open up discussions about menopause through pop-up cafes.

“It’s brilliant they’re doing [menopause policies] but the first step is to make it possible for people who work in the media to admit they’re suffering from the menopause,” Rachel said. 

“At the moment people don’t speak up about it because of ignorance and shame.”

“If media workplaces can become more inclusive of older women, that would help. The more they can do to show they value their older female employees the more likely people are to speak up.”

Rachel suggested that employers could host their own menopause cafes, or increase internal communications to help reduce stigma and promote healthy discussion about all things menopause. 

Managers, human resources staff and occupational health staff could also receive specialised menopause training if they have not been trained already. 

Rachel confessed that she had mixed feelings about menopause policies. She felt that rather than individual policies for every health condition there should be a universal approach that promotes understanding, open discussion, flexible working arrangements and sympathy for any member of staff that struggles with any health condition.

Elsewhere, there are several accreditations that media companies can work towards to be accredited as a menopause-friendly employer.

Overall it seems that education and understanding are the bedrock of a healthy relationship between media employer and employee – especially when it comes to menopause.

For more support and information:

Pausitivity 

British Menopause Society 

Menopause Matters (Email sessions with Dr Heather Currie, £30 per question)

Menopause Café events