Channel 4 and ITN
Channel 4 (C4) and ITN are piloting a one-year placement scheme as part of their commitment to encourage more disabled people to take up careers in television.
Jamie Smith, a young partially sighted albino journalist, fought off competition from 250 other applicants to become the first trainee on the scheme, which started in April 2005.
The scheme was advertised last November in 'The Guardian', the disability press, TV journalist Jon Snow's Snowmail e-bulletin, C4 websites and on-air announcements after C4 News. An experienced journalist carried out 60 telephone interviews to obtain a shortlist of 30 people, who were then invited to face-to-face interviews. Two of these went through to the second stage interview.
Smith is being supported by a number of senior journalists and will receive ongoing training in using ITN computers, writing and putting together TV packages. He uses a large computer monitor, which was paid for with Access to Work funding.
The two broadcasting organisations will review the traineeship this year and then decide whether to continue it on a regular basis. [i]
Sources
- [i] Employers' Update