Learning Waves secures funding for Journalism Graduate Programme.

Learning Waves has secured funding for a Journalism Graduate Programme from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland(BAI) and will be supported by Skillnet Ireland.  The application for the programme was made to the BAI in December 2018 following a proposal from the Learning Waves News and Talk Sub Committee.  The programme will fund five graduates to work in selected radio stations for five months following graduation from college.  The graduates will be assigned a mentor in each station and will be supported by Learning Waves Skillnet in relation to training and workshops over the five month placement.

The programme will be run on a pilot basis for 2019 and is in direct response to the growing need in the industry for journalists.  The successful graduates will have the opportunity to tell their stories, to create news, to break news and to have the opportunity to broadcast news on-air and online. 

Applications for the programme will open on April 1st 2019 following a roadshow to colleges by Learning Waves. Both graduates and stations will have to apply to take part in the programme.  A selection committee will review applications and decsions will be made by the Learning Waves board in relation to stations and graduates.

Over the course of the five month placement, graduates will have access to Learning Waves Skillnet training programmes and specific training programmes for the graduates will take place and will include :

• Introduction to the Independent Radio Sector in Ireland
• Introduction to Broadcast Law
• Journalism and Storytelling for Radio
• Writing for Radio/Sourcing and Verifying Content
• Voice Training
• Court Reporting
• Recording and Editing Content
• Overview of Mobile Journalism
• Networking events

The programme is the first of its kind for the network and is unique, innovative and responsive to industry needs.  Full details of the programme will be made available on the website from 1st April 2019 with online applicaitons open for stations and graduates from this date also.