Recruiting its eighth intake of Television Production and Journalism bursary scholars, with the schemes running since 2014, the RTS hopes to award 35 scholarships to individuals studying Television Production or related subjects, with an additional 10 scholarships for the Technology Bursary.
It has been 10 years since the Society’s Royal Patron – then HRH The Prince of Wales, now HM King Charles III – launched the RTS bursary scheme.
To celebrate, we caught up with three of the very first cohort to hear some of our scholars’ many success stories. Their career paths have led them in diverse directions, from reporting in war zones to spinning tunes on Radio 1, to making a mark in children’s TV…
RTS Bursary Scholar Maxine Sibanda talks about the impact of the scheme and how she has continued her journey with the RTS as part of the Education Committee to help students like her. Maxine now works as a Script Editor at New Pictures.
The RTS Bursary is currently open for applications until 31 July. Apply here!
RTS Bursary Scholar and recipient of the Beryl Vertue scholarship, Saleem Miah, reflects on his time in the programme and as part of the RTS community.
The RTS Bursary is currently open for applications until 31 July. Apply now.
The Scheme is all about channelling new voices from low-income backgrounds and championing underrepresented talent, in the hopes that one day they too might be asking Big Brother contestants not to swear on live TV.
As an Ambassador, AJ will be meeting and mentoring bursary scholars, as well as attending bursaries events. But in the meantime we spoke to AJ to learn more about her TV journey, from runner to primetime presenter via the call centre, and to find out why getting involved in the Scheme is so important to her.
The Big Brother host will meet and mentor scholars and attend bursaries events.
She said: “As someone who worked their way up and started my career with no connections in the TV industry, coming from a working-class background in Blackburn to finding my feet in the industry, I know how important being supported by such a prestigious institution will be for the recipients.
“I look forward to meeting the talented students and hearing all about their aspirations for the future.”
The RTS is delighted to announce that British television presenter AJ Odudu will be an Ambassador for the scheme, which will see her meeting and mentoring the scholars and attending bursaries events, as well as using her platform to highlight the importance of the RTS bursary schemes for up-and-coming talent in the television industry.
The dinner was combined with speeches from newly awarded RTS Fellows (an award offered to those who have offered outstanding contributions to the UK television industry). Amongst them were Succession creator Jesse Armstrong, and screenwriters Abi Morgan (The Split) and Jack Thorne (Best Interests). Meanwhile 100 past and present scholars were busy making valuable connections with each other, as well as the TV veterans.
Thirty-four were chosen for the TV Production and Journalism Bursary, including Amelia Nicola, who was awarded the Steve Hewlett Scholarship, and Cerys Horner, who won the Beryl Vertue Scholarship. The latter was introduced last year for a student with an interest in producing.
Ten scholars have received a Digital Innovation Bursary.
Theresa Wise, CEO of the RTS, said: “This year, we have received the highest number of applications to date.
During her early years at school, Catriona Walsh didn’t speak. It might be a surprise, then, for her teachers to discover that she wants to be a TV presenter. This summer, she’s spending her university holiday working as a studio runner and researcher on Blue Peter, upping sticks from her hometown of Derry, Northern Ireland, for Salford’s MediaCity in pursuit of her dream job.
