PPA and PTC launch industry mentoring scheme for trainee magazine journalists

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Student journalists will be given extra support in their quest to forge a career in magazine publishing as part of a new mentoring scheme launched today.

The MagNet pilot scheme will bring together between 20 and 30 final year and postgraduate students on courses accredited by the Periodicals Training Council (PTC) with those already employed in the sector.

The project, which will run for the next academic year, is co-ordinated by the PTC and endorsed by the PPA , the trade association for magazine and business media publishers. It is supported by major magazine publishers Bauer Media and BBC Magazines.

Mentors employed within PPA member companies will provide students from under-represented groups, focusing on black and ethnic minority student journalists, with support such as work experience, networking and practical guidance.

The scheme's co-ordinators and those who have taken part will assess MagNet's success after its scheduled run of one year. Higher education institutions involved in the project include Cardiff University, City University London, Goldsmiths (University of London), the University of Central Lancashire, and the University of Sheffield.

"We are really pleased to be able to launch MagNet on behalf of magazine journalism students across the UK. Through the scheme we are aiming to ensure that the sector's workforce comprises the very best available talent," says Loraine Davies, PTC director and head of PPA Training, in a press release.

"We are confident that these courses teach the skills employers need new journalists to have, and graduates from them will be able to hit the ground running when they start their career in the magazine sector.  It's in the industry's interest to get involved and be able to cherry pick the best and brightest new talent," she told Journalism.co.uk.

"Mentors will receive training but must be able to commit to giving at least one hour a month to the scheme. Mentors should be experienced journalists working on a publication owned by a PPA member company."