Joseph Harker, the Guardian’s senior editor for diversity and development, has spent four decades in journalism. He shared what he looks for in new talent, which skills are worth building now, and how to make yourself noticed
Joseph Harker started in journalism in the 1980s, when newspapers were printed on paper and websites did not exist. Today he is senior editor, diversity and development at the Guardian, where he co-founded the Legacies of Enslavement programme three years ago. He has watched the industry change shape more than once, which makes him a calm and encouraging guide to the latest shift.
We caught up with him about where the opportunities are, what skills are worth picking up, and how to get noticed, whether you are job hunting or hoping for your next step up.
Many journalism schemes target people starting out. Harker's team is now turning its attention to mid-career journalists. Mid-career fellowships, which are set to launch before the end of the year, are designed to give people from underrepresented groups time inside an institution like the Guardian, with proper training at senior level.
The roles could be in editing, production, reporting or video. The fellowships will run for two years and include a partnership with an academic institution, so fellows can build a body of work with an academic grounding behind it. The idea is that by the end, you have something tangible to give your career a real boost, but details are still to be finalised.
