Learning Waves is delighted to announce that it has received funding for a Journalism Graduate Programme for 2021.  The funding has been secured from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland(BAI) and will be supported by funding from participating stations and Skillnet Ireland.  The funding will see 10 Journalism graduates placed in 10 different radio stations for a period of 5 months.  The graduates will be supported financially through the BAI funding and the funding from participating stations.  In addition to the placement, the graduates will take part in a comprehensive training programme that will be devised by Learning Waves Skillnet and supported by Skillnet Ireland through its Skills Connect Funding.

Based on feedback from the 2019 programme, the 2021 programme will be station led with ten stations being selected to take part in the programme prior to the recruitment of graduates.  Once the stations have been selected, Learning Waves will do a virtual road show to colleges across the country who are offering Journalism courses at present. The programme will only be open to 2020 and 2021 Journalism graduates. 

The recruitement of stations will commence week beginning 22nd March 2021.  Stations will have 2 weeks to complete the application form and selection of stations will take place week beginnig 5th April 2021.  Once stations have been selected the programme will be formally launched, the virtual roadshow will take place and graduate applications will open.

The success of the 2019 programme has led to the additional funding being secured in 2021.  Two of the 2019 graduates are curerntly working full-time in the station in which they completed the graduate programme.  Two of the graduates have gone on to further education and one of the graduates is currently working in a freelance capacity within the sector.

The programme offers graduates the opportunity to open windows to the world, to open awareness of news and emerging ideas and to open minds.  Further details of the programme can be seen  on : https://www.learningwaves.ie/journalism-graduate-programme and details of the 2019 graduates can also be found at this link.