Budding sports reporters in Hackney offered chance to apply for scholarship at The Sun

Youngsters in Hackney have the chance to apply for the opportunity, which is being offered by The Sun newspaper and Wimbledon-based press agency Sportsbeat.

The 40 week training scheme – accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) – will include one day a week on The Sun’s sportsdesk. If the successful candidate passes all exams, they will then be offered a six-week paid internship with Sportsbeat followed by a three-month paid internship with SunSport.

The SunSport Diversity in Journalism Scholarship aims to build on the Olympic legacy by providing a life-changing opportunity to a budding journalist who has been put off from pursuing their dream because of concerns over college fees.

Dominic Mohan, editor of The Sun, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this project which offers an excellent journalistic opportunity and builds on the London 2012 Olympic legacy.”

Former Arsenal and England footballer Ian Wright, now a regular sports columnist for The Sun, said: “What a brilliant opportunity for someone to get into the media covering sport. It’s exciting that people who would not normally consider this a career option now have the chance to go for it.”

Sportsbeat editor David Parsons said: “There will certainly be plenty of opportunities to work at sporting venues across the country and assist our journalists reporting on the build-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”

The course includes modules in news reporting and sports journalism, video journalism and shorthand, as well as sports PR, media law and public affairs. Four days a week will be spent at a training centre in South-West London and there will be an opportunity to contribute to Sportsbeat’s network of football and rugby union reporting.

Applications are open until April 30, 2013 and forms are available by emailing sunscholarship@sportsbeat.co.uk.

Applicants must have a minimum of two A-levels or equivalent.