The PAS Panel

The PAS Panel oversees the Placement Assistance Scheme, ensuring the funds are distributed fairly and equitably.

Chaired by BJTC Deputy Chair Kate ironside, the panel is made up of a mixture of industry and academic representatives who can offer a variety of perspectives on the needs of journalists seeking placements.

All are passionate about improving social diversity in our media organisations.

Kate Ironside - University of Northampton

Chair

Kate Ironside - University of Northampton

Chair

Bio

“The joy of this BJTC scheme is that it offers practical financial help to today’s students who have to weigh up the costs of doing unpaid placements with the hard reality of their own personal finances. And I know how important placements are. I landed my first job in journalism as a direct result of an unpaid placement. Today’s student journalists deserve every helping hand they can get. I’m delighted to be working on this project.”

Kate Ironside was a journalist for 26 years before moving full time into academia. She specialised in political coverage, covering Westminster for Central Press, the Daily Express and BBC Westminster. She also wrote a weekly column on the EU for the Western Morning News for 17 years, winning UK Press Gazette’s Columnist of the Year award in 1999.

Kate is now a Senior Lecturer in Journalism at the University of Northampton where she teaches radio, ethics and law & public administration and is course leader for BA Broadcast Journalism. She¹s a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and sits on the BJTC board.