The Creative Collective - Media, training and personal development consultancy

The Creative Collective National Print Internship Programme

In 2001, we launched a three-year national print internship programme for BME journalism students. The only one of its kind in the UK, the programme attracted specialist, regional and national publications from rival newsgroups to participate in promoting diversity in the media.

Participating publications were: Manchester Evening News, The Times, The Big Issue, Supply Management, FT, Bradford Telegraph & Argus, Nottingham Evening Post and Scunthorpe Telegraph. We secured $10,000 seed funding for the 2001 pilot from the Freedom Forum in Washington with match funding from the participating publications. Additional sponsors included the Audit Commission, Project Fullemploy, Sharron Wallace Photography and the Rita Bailey Partnership.

Between 2001 to 2003, an ongoing national media campaign, public events, workshops at journalism schools and outreach attracted over 300 BME applications for 20 places. More than 70% of our former interns are working in the industry for publications and broadcasters such as The Times, Sky News, Dorset Echo, New Nation, Community Care magazine, Youthnet online, Manchester Evening News, Nottingham Evening Post, Eastern Eye and the Observer.

In 2004, the programme was praised as an example of good practice by the Society of Editors. And the Manchester Evening News runs an adaptation of the programme with notable success.

Services

THE MEDIA: IMPROVING RECRUITMENT PRACTICES

Regional newspapers and broadcasters

The problem

Comprehensive figures on the numbers of BME journalists employed by media organisations, particularly in the print media, are sketchy at best. An aversion to conducting much-needed exit interviews is part of the problem. Where figures do exist, such as at the BBC, little is revealed about the poor retention rate, why they leave, and the inability to recruit successfully, particularly outside of London. What is clear is that many media organisations are waking up to the importance of having a racially diverse workforce that goes beyond meeting quotas.

The options

This consultancy option will seek to overcome the lack of clear, transparent and understood procedures and processes that currently exist, such as a tendency for journalists to still be recruited by personal recommendation or word of mouth and among largely white middle class graduates from the south-east of England.

For media organisations that comply with progressive legislation and best practice, we will help to ensure that your organisation attracts and retains quality professionals. Often the answers already exist within your organisations. That is why we conduct an internal audit and develop a toolkit for action or a best practice guide tailored for your organisation to use in-house.

The value

Let’s be clear. You know your business. And whether a broadcaster, national newspaper or website, the demand for change is the same: visibility, reflective practice, learning sets and outreach initiatives, all of which will help to facilitate new thinking.

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