Now in its 37th year, the Scott Trust Bursary aims to assist students who come from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the media, aligning with the University’s commitment to advance and promote equity and social justice. In particular, the bursary is open to those from a lower socio-economic background, Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and people with a disability.  

The scheme offers fully funded tuition fees, living expenses, mentoring and work placements at the Guardian, as well as an opportunity for a fixed-term contract with the Guardian commencing after graduation. 

Joe is one of six recipients of the bursary nationally in 2025 and becomes the third student to be offered a place at Leeds Trinity since the scheme expanded to the University in 2023. The first, Mimi Ibrahim, successfully graduated with a Distinction last winter. 

Katherine Blair, Associate Professor (Professional Practice) in Journalism at Leeds Trinity University, said: “We’ve had two engaged and promising students study with us through the Scott Trust Bursary scheme so far, and we’re excited to welcome another budding media professional into our Centre for Journalism this year. Joe’s talent and determination to create a career for himself in the industry was evident during the application process, and we look forward to supporting him in progressing towards his goals during his time at Leeds Trinity.” 

Driven by his “desire to tell stories creatively and compassionately”, Joe contributed to The Bristol Tab while studying for an undergraduate degree in Politics and International Relations in the city, gaining experience in multimedia reporting, photojournalism, documentary filmmaking, and short-form social news content. 

He moved to Japan after graduating, where he continued to develop his journalism and media skillset. While living in Tokyo, he wrote for Yokogao Magazine, a Japanese culture publication, worked on documentary production with Peleja Media, an independent producer of football-focussed content, and completed an internship with Metropolis, a design and architecture–concentrated magazine. 

Joe will now study for his postgraduate degree at Leeds Trinity’s Main Campus in Horsforth, home to the University’s Centre for Journalism which has the number one Journalism offering in the UK according to the Guardian University Guide 2025. 

Joe said: “Receiving the Scott Trust Bursary is a pivotal moment in my early career. The support from the Guardian Foundation will allow me to fully focus on developing technical skills during my MA, while also gaining invaluable practical experience through placements at The Guardian. I’m especially looking forward to building on my multimedia foundation at Leeds Trinity and experimenting with new storytelling mediums like podcasting. I am excited to take a significant step in pursuing a career that rewards curiosity, exposes me to different perspectives and allows me to keep asking questions.” 

For more information about Journalism course at Leeds Trinity, visit the University website.