BAFTA scholarship recognises DMU's Investigative Journalism MA


BAFTA has added De Montfort University Leicester’s (DMU) industry-leading Investigative Journalism MA to the list of eligible courses for its prestigious scholarship programme.

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Endorsed by and developed with Channel 4, this is further recognition for DMU’s innovative MA, which aims to educate and train the best of the next generation of audio-visual investigative journalists.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is offering between £5,000 and £12,000 towards course fees, as well as mentoring support from a BAFTA member, winner or nominee and free access to BAFTA events. Online applications are open until 5pm on Tuesday 2 June.

Teaching students how to identify, pitch, research and film investigative stories, DMU’s programme is delivered by industry experts including Dorothy Byrne, Head of Channel 4 News and Current Affairs.

As well as practical filming and editing skills, the course covers other crucial areas such as in-depth research, handling complex data, unpicking financial information, working undercover, using the Freedom of Information Act and understanding the law.

Since its inception in 2016, the MA has launched the careers of many successful DMU graduates.

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Channel Wallace

Chanell Wallace recently presented an episode of BBC One’s Panorama, following the widespread success of her hard-hitting documentary Life After My Brother's Murder.

She said: “The course caught my eye because of its industry connection. It’s like Channel 4 took everything they believe in and put it into a degree.

“It gave me two crucial things: a postgraduate qualification which I never thought I could accomplish and all the skills I needed to succeed in the industry. It helped me find my feet and become the journalist I wanted to be.”

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Holly Hume

Just months into her role as a news reporter at the East Anglian Daily Times, Holly Hume has already had front page bylines.

“The specialist knowledge that the speakers brought to the course was unparalleled. They were incredible and people pay good money to have the contact time with them that we got,” she said.

Leaving a career in banking to pursue his passion has led Rakeem Omar to working on documentaries for national television and presenting his own weekly BBC radio show.

He said: “I have learnt so many things from my MA that are still being applied day-to-day. From researching and finding sources to dealing with vulnerable interviewees and scripting, I feel it has given me an advantage in radio.”

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Rakeem Omar

Leusa Lloyd landed a role as a researcher on X-Ray, a consumer affairs programme on BBC Wales, while she was still finishing off her dissertation.

“I genuinely believe I wouldn’t have broken into the industry without this MA,” she said.

“Also, being awarded one of the bursaries applicants can apply for made a big difference. It covered my living costs and it’s the only reason I could afford to do the MA and give it my full focus without having to get another job on the side.”

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Leusa Lloyd

Pervez Khan, programme leader for DMU’s Investigative Journalism MA, said: “It’s great to be the first investigative journalism course to be selected for BAFTA’s prestigious scholarship programme and we hope this will enhance our MA’s already growing reputation in the industry.”

The full list of scholarships and bursaries open to 2020/21 applicants is available online.

Posted on Thursday 21 May 2020

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