The bursary has been named after Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, the comedy writing duo who after first meeting in a TB sanatorium back in 1948 went on to create Hancock and Steptoe & Son.
Driven by boredom and alienation as a pair of young men in a sanatorium surrounded by older occupants, Galton and Simpson turned to writing. The duo went on to become one of the best loved and most enduring writing partnerships in comedy history.
When I learnt of the Royal Television Society (RTS) bursaries in 2015, I knew I had to apply. Any organisation actively committed to the diversification and inclusion of underrepresented groups within the British media will always hold a place in my heart. Plus, being part of the RTS is a great opportunity to network with media industry leaders - an opportunity that I was very unlikely to stumble across as a young black woman, from a low-income family.
I received the RTS Television Production bursary in 2015, so I’m approaching the end of my course at the University of Westminster.
Across my three years, I can’t overstate how much help and support the RTS bursary scheme and my RTS mentor have given me, with plentiful guidance and advice on my career path.
Hewlett, who died last week, charted his battle against cancer through his columns in The Observer and in interviews with Eddie Mair on BBC Radio Four.
The scheme partners senior news operators which in the past has included Channel 4’s Matt Frei and BBC broadcaster Jeremy Bowen, with journalists who are in the early stages of their career.
Now in its sixth year, the Trust is expanding its selection criteria to include those entering journalism from non-traditional routes.
Having cut her teeth as a print news journalist, Margaret Emsley has spent the last 18 years at ITV Yorkshire working on the Calendar regional news programme in Leeds. Starting out as a bulletin writer, she worked her way up the ranks and today oversees the entire production of the daily news show.
Working in partnership with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, the university is offering one student a full fee bursary on a one year course in Wildlife Filmmaking.
The course includes masterclasses and personal mentoring from experts in the field, and practical experience from staff at the BBC's Natural History Unit and Bristol-based company Plimsoll Productions.
The Society is offering 20 bursaries to students studying Television Production and Broadcast Journalism courses at accredited universities. A further five technology bursaries are also available to students studying Computing and Engineering at some of the top courses at British universities.
The RTS has this year invested £75,000 in two schemes – offering 20 bursaries for Television Production and Broadcast Journalism students and, for the first time, five bursaries for Computing and Engineering undergraduates. The bursaries aim to widen participation in media and related industries and support talented students from lower income backgrounds seeking to pursue a career in television. During their studies, each scholar will be given £1,000 per year to assist with their expenses.
