Journalism Graduate Programme 2023 Applications now open.
Learning Waves is delighted to announce that it has secured funding for its Journalism Graduate Programme for 2023. The programme will see 10 graduates placed across 10 Independent Radio Stations for a period of 5 months beginning September 2023. The programme involves plenty of hands-on training which will equip the students with the skills to work in the different departments of a radio station, such as the newsroom, current affairs, and sports department. The students will be assigned a mentor in their radio station who will guide them through their training journey. In parallel to their work in the radio station, they will also take part in a training programme run by Learning Waves.
The programme will be supported financially by Coimisiún na Meán, previously known as the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Skillnet Ireland, Learning Waves Members and Learning Waves. In assessing the application for the 2023 programme, the assessors acknowledged the ambition of the 2023 programme and the emphasis on inclusivity and equality of access. The programme will allow graduates to build their portfolios and create new programme content which will be reflective of the station's audiences.
During the programme in 2022 graduates got the opportunity to create and present content looking at the areas of Sustainability and/or Equality and Diversity. The content had to be unique to the station in which the graduates were working and there had to be a commitment from the radio stations to broadcast the content.
In addition to having the opportunity to create and broadcast content, graduates can now also avail of the opportunity to obtain a Diploma in Broadcast Journalism on successful completion of the programme. The programme is certified by the London College of Music and graduates in addition to securing employment now also have an additional qualification on successful completion of the programme.
Of the ten graduates who took part in the programme in 2022, 8 are now working full-time in the Independent Radio Sector in Ireland. Graduates are now employed in the following stations :
- Midlands 103 (2 graduates)
- iRadio
- Newstalk
- Radio Kerry
- Off the Ball
- Shannonside
- Ocean FM
The following gives you an overview of the experience of the 2022 Graduates :
Chloe Farrell – Midlands 103
"While completing this programme I worked Midlands 103, and I am still currently working here today. The main part of my role was researching content for the current affairs show, Midlands Today. In the beginning, I was not sure how much I would learn in such a short amount of time. Thankfully, I was wrong. Never mind the technical skills that I have learnt, the confidence that I have gained in myself is incredible".
Clodagh McKeon – iRadio
"I thought the Learning Waves Graduate Programme was brilliant. The topics we researched were fantastic, current, and important. So, that was enjoyable for me, being part of a radio station and getting to know the team, it was brilliant. I learned so much and feel completely confident. I was delighted to be still working in iRadio after completing the programme".
Dan Hanratty – Off the Ball
"I was interning in Off the Ball from September to February. I am still working in Off the Ball since! This course has really done wonders for me. It has changed my career completely. I was always so interested in radio and wanted to see myself working in the industry. Learning Waves has given me that platform. I have gotten to connect with plenty of people in the industry which I would have never done before. It's been incredible".
Heather Lawrie – Newstalk
"I really enjoyed my time on this programme. I was very much welcomed, any question I had someone was there to help me with it. Besides working in The Newsroom, itself, the lectures were fantastic. Learning from industry professionals and focusing on those skills that I have always wanted to develop was an invaluable part of this programme. The best part of this whole internship was the community made between the interns. We were all able to help and support each other all the way through. I know that these people are going to be there for the rest of my career, and I am thankful for Learning Waves for creating that".
If you are interested in applying for the Journalism Graduate Programme 2023 apply here: https://form.jotform.com/LearningWaves/JGPApplication2023. The closing date for student applications is the 20th May 2023. Students will then be shortlisted and interveiws will take place. Final selection of graduates will take place in June 2023 with placements commencing in September 2023. To find out more details on the programme and to see the list of stations applying for the programme go to : https://www.learningwaves.ie/journalism-graduate-programme
Meet the 2022 Learning Waves Journalism Graduates