The Guardian Foundation is delighted to announce the recipients of this year’s bursaries: Claudia Efemini, George Francis Lee, Miatta Mbriwa, Rosie Peters-McDonald, Joe Pinner and Leyla Reynolds. They will start their MAs in Journalism this month at City St George’s, University of London, Manchester Metropolitan University, Goldsmiths, University of London, Leeds Trinity University and Birmingham City University, respectively.
Claudia Efemini is a History and Politics graduate from the University of Edinburgh, where she founded Nurtured Magazine, a publication by black women that archives the creativity and experiences of Black women at the university.
George Francis Lee is the co-founder of STAT Magazine, an alternative art and culture magazine based in the North West. As a freelancer, he has written for The Guardian, The Fence, The Mill, The Big Issue and others.
Miatta Mbriwa is currently an Editorial Intern at the Financial Times on the Life & Arts desk, after graduating from King’s College London last summer.
Rosie Peters-McDonald is an English graduate from the University of Exeter, where she was deputy editor of their student newspaper.
Joe Pinner has been working in Tokyo since graduating, where he has contributed features for Yokogao Magazine, worked on a documentary with Peleja Media, and interned at Metropolis Magazine.
They will be joined by Leyla Reynolds who will be continuing her studies this academic year.
Find out more about them here.
Esmat Jeraj, Interim executive director, The Guardian Foundation, said:
“I am delighted to congratulate and welcome Claudia, George, Miatta, Rosie, Joe and Leyla as this year’s bursary cohort. Their talent, drive and perspectives embody the very spirit of the scheme. For decades, the Scott Trust Bursary has championed underrepresented voices and helped open doors that too often remain closed, with alumni now thriving in newsrooms around the world. I have every confidence this year’s recipients will build on that legacy, inspiring and strengthening journalism in the years to come.”
For the last 37 years, the bursary scheme has assisted 146 students from backgrounds underrepresented in the media, offering funding and experience at a level unmatched by any other UK journalism scholarship. To date, 70% of Scott Trust Bursary alumni still work in journalism.
In 2023, the Foundation added three new bursaries reserved specifically for Black aspiring journalists in the UK. These are funded by the Scott Trust and form part of a decade-long programme of restorative justice in response to independent research into the Guardian’s historical connections to transatlantic slavery. The findings identified links between John Edward Taylor and the associates who funded the Manchester Guardian’s creation, and slavery.
The Scott Trust Bursary is a key part of The Guardian Foundation’s work to facilitate voice and agency with those who face barriers entering careers in journalism. It offers tuition fees, living expenses, mentoring and work placements at the Guardian. Many recipients have gone on to successful careers in the industry, working for news outlets such as the Guardian, BBC, New York Times, Financial Times and the Daily Mirror. The scheme’s alumni include Gary Younge, Randeep Ramesh, Samira Ahmed, Tariq Panja, Simon Murphy, Pippa Crerar, Lanre Bakare and more.
The application process for the 2026-27 Scott Trust Bursary will commence early next year.
You can read more about the programme here.
About The Guardian Foundation
The Guardian Foundation is a global charity dedicated to promoting press freedom, media literacy, and access to quality liberal journalism. They equip people with the skills, tools and support to navigate today’s complex information landscape, and to ensure that journalism remains a powerful force for truth.
The Guardian Foundation was created by the Scott Trust, who make an important financial contribution to its work. As an independent charity, the Foundation leverage the Guardian’s expertise to strengthen journalism’s role in society by:
Building a news and media literate generation, working with young people aged 7-18
Supporting independent media in challenging environments
Championing diverse voices and perspectives in the media
They are known for their award-winning educational news programmes which cater for primary aged students (NewsWise) right up to secondary and higher education students (Behind the Headlines). In addition to the Scott Trust Bursary, the Foundation opens access to journalism through its Emerging Voices Awards, a political opinion-writing competition which champions fresh voices and perspectives.
Further information about the charity’s work can be found here.
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For further information email: media.enquiries@theguardian.com
