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Salford tops list for Royal Television Society awards for 2017

Monday 2 October 2017

THREE talented young journalism students have been chosen for prestigious backing from the media industry.

Undergraduate Oliver Cummins Hylton was named the first recipient of the Royal Television Society/The Media Society Bursary in the name of the late, great Steve Hewlett.

Oliver, from Lincoln has enrolled as a ‘Fresher’ on the BA (Hons) Broadcast Journalism degree at the University of Salford.

He was chosen for the RTS/The Media Society bursary by a panel which included Steve’s wife Rachel Crellin and will receive  £2,000 for the three years of his course plus free as attendance at the Edinburgh Television Festival for a special session devoted to Steve.

Passionate supporter of talent

Steve Hewlett, a Visiting Professor at Salford and "the voice of "the Nations and Regions Media Conference, was a passionate supporter of up-and-coming journalism talent.

Accepting the bursary, Oliver said: “I am happy and humbled to think that I only applied for this great privilege as a shot in the dark but I can't believe that I hit the target which shows that anyone can do it and I urge them to.

“It takes a lot to believe in yourself and put your raw self out there through fear of failure, but when the rewards are as amazing as this then it's completely worth it. Hopefully I can repay the faith put into me by chasing my journalistic and media dreams whilst learning to be a better person."

In separate awards from the Royal Television Society, undergraduates Rebecca Schott and Micah Williams, have also been awarded bursaries to support talented students from lower income backgrounds seeking to pursue a career in television.

Rebecca & Micah

Rebecca has been awarded the bursary to study the BA (Hons) Journalism (Multimedia) course.

Micah Williams has been awarded the bursary to study the BSc (Hons) Media Technology course.

The University of Salford is the only school of journalism in the UK to have three winners of Royal Television Society bursaries in 2017.

Theresa Wise, CEO of the Royal Television Society, said: “The RTS has supported 101 inspiring and talented individuals towards their educational goals via our bursary schemes. The schemes are important as they offer those from lower income backgrounds not only financial support, but access to mentoring and a network of contacts within the broadcasting industry."

Winners were selected by a panel of industry professionals following an open call to UK students applying for courses at accredited Universities. For further information please visit https://www.rts.org.uk/education-training/rts-bursaries.