The CJA-UK mentorship scheme for young aspirant journalists, now in its third year, has grown in size every year. In 2025 just over 20 successful applicants, from among journalism students and those working on student newspapers, have been paired with experienced mentors.
The panel of mentors includes many senior figures with a background in national newspapers or broadcasting, with the BBC and elsewhere, but we also have mentors from the expanding world of online journalism.
The mentorship scheme is aimed at those who have just graduated, or are due to graduate in mid-year. Journalism can be one of the most exciting, demanding yet fulfilling careers, but taking those first steps can be daunting. That is where we can help.
Experience from the first two years of the scheme has taught us that mentoring is best done in the first three months of the year, before exams and coursework deadlines get in the way.
If you are interested in being mentored in 2026, we will be calling for applications once the new academic year begins in the autumn. The deadline is normally the end of November, so that mentors and mentees can be matched and ready to begin work as soon as the new year dawns.
Watch this space!
