Ahead of announcing the winner of JR's inaugural Emerging Journalists Award, Dani Silver speaks to four of the candidates who received special commendations

Last November, JR launched a six-week online journalism programme for aspiring journalists. The series, supported by Jewish News and the Union of Jewish Students, was made up of masterclasses and lectures covering everything from news reporting and arts reviewing, to podcasts and social media. After the 7 October attacks, having journalists who can tell Jewish stories with accuracy, flair and integrity felt more important than ever.

The sessions featured leading journalists such as Jonathan Freedland, Rafael Behr and Hugo Rifkind, the director of the Columbia School of Journalism Jane Eisner and BBC Northern England correspondent Judith Moritz.

The programme culminated in a prize, the JR Emerging Journalist Awards, which asked entrants to write an article on any area of Jewish life. All entries were anonymised. There were also commendation awards, which recognised contributions to the classes.

The judges – Behr, Eisner and JR editor Rebecca Taylor – were bowled over by the scope of the submissions, with subjects ranging from 19th-century sex trafficking to a Jewish interpretation of the TV drama Saltburn. All award winners will receive personalised mentoring and internship opportunities from across the industry.

Here, we hear from the specially commended candidates about their experience of the series, current journalistic endeavours and plans for the future.

Judges' Special Commendation: Isaac Sallé

How does journalism currently fit into your life?
I’m in my last year of A-levels, so my journalistic involvement includes regular contributions to the local Jewish community magazine, as well as the Emerging Journalists Programme. I’d love to do more and, at university, I hope to be involved in student newspapers and radio shows.

What did you get from the course?
It was immensely beneficial to my understanding of a career in journalism, as well as providing the ‘tricks of the trade’. The speakers were not only big names in the industry, but people who seemed to really care about helping and advising aspirational writers. The weekly tasks covered numerous branches of journalism and were helpful in gaining a better understanding of what each style involves. The mentoring I received afterwards was also incredibly illuminating and genuinely enjoyable. I can easily see this course having a significant impact on the trajectory of my working life.

Where do you see yourself in the future?
Short-term, it’s English language volunteering in Senegal for eight months, hopefully followed by an English degree at Cambridge. Long-term, I’d love to get into a career in journalism. I like the idea of interviewing and long-form articles, but the industry could easily look completely different by the time I've finished university. Who knows? I might end up writing scripts for AI newsreaders.

Aside from the current conflict, what aspects of Jewish life do you think the media should be covering?
Journalism doesn’t just have to report animosity, it can be part of the solution too. Trying to understand why other people disagree so vehemently with something you strongly believe in is vital to solving both physical and cultural conflict.

Tutors' Special Commendation: Rachel Coussins

How does journalism currently fit into your life?
I'm currently doing an MA in digital and social journalism at City University, London. I'm also freelancing.

What did you get from the course?
The Emerging Journalist Programme really blew me away in terms of how professional it was. A lot of elements of journalism that I was taught by JR would crop up on my course a week or two later, and it often reinforced what I had already been taught.

Where do you see yourself in the future?
I hope to work on adapting a Jewish media scene that appeals to young Jewish people. As I specialise in digital and social media, I see the value of keeping up with how young people consume their news. For instance, there seems to have been a rise in Jewish meme pages, which often make poignant political points through humour. It is intrinsic to our community that we process pain through humour and that is something that is evolving, but certainly not lost on younger generations. I hope to do this through my own Instagram-based Jewish feminist publication, That Opinionated Bitch (https://instagram.com/thatopinionatedbitch), aimed at bringing awareness of antisemitism to young people in a digestible way.

Aside from the current conflict, what aspects of Jewish life do you think the media should be covering?
I think at this current moment, it's incredibly worthwhile to cover the positive aspects of the Jewish community; the tzedakah, the community spirit, the warmth. At a time when so many people are consuming information that paints all Jews in a bad light, it's so important for our news bases to balance outing antisemitism with platforming the light that shines through our community.

Tutors' Special Commendation: Natasha Djanogly

How does journalism currently fit into your life?
I write features for The Tab, Birmingham, whilst studying at the University of Birmingham. I also apply to write for open call zines and magazines.

What did you get from the course?
I learnt about so many different types of journalism; it helped me consider different options. I found it fascinating to listen to those working in the industry and ask them questions. The feedback was extremely helpful. It definitely exceeded my expectations.

Where do you see yourself in the future?
I'd like be a journalist for a fashion magazine like Dazed. I’ve always had an interest in fashion and street-style photography.

Aside from the current conflict, what aspects of Jewish life do you think the media should be covering?
The dangers of fast fashion, and the importance of sustainability and inclusivity in the industry.

Tutors’ Special Commendation: Arturo Desimone

How does journalism currently fit into your life?
I’m freelancing, mostly reviewing theatre shows and movies in Buenos Aires. I've contributed to OpenDemocracy.net and worked occasionally as a fixer for journalists who wanted to explore the Dutch Caribbean, which is where I was born and raised. I'd also like to find a platform for more political and geopolitical commentary.

What did you get from the course?
The Emerging Journalists Programme exceeded all my expectations because it brought us into contact with established people in publications such as Haaretz, The Forward, The Guardian. The back-and-forth with streaming king Andrew Gold was important to better understand the ins and outs of podcasting – something I intend to do more of. Gold was very open and encouraging. Winning the mentorship prize has been important to me. Jonny Shamir (Haaretz) is very insightful and has already dispelled some doubts that I had. Plus, it’s great to exchange ideas with someone who has knowledge in the field.

Where do you see yourself in the future?
First, getting paid for writing articles. That would be the next best thing to manna from heaven. Second, working as a war correspondent, preferably far from Argentina, since the chaos here is all too familiar. And third, linking journalistic with literary writing.

Aside from the current conflict, what aspects of Jewish life do you think the media should be covering?
I would like to interview young veterans and draft dodgers, who left Russia because of the war. Also, the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict has flared up after the recent ethnic cleansing by the Azerbaijani armed forces of the Nagorno-Karabakh region's Armenians and there is a large Armenian diaspora community nearby that I'd like to talk to. I'd also like to cover culture and contemporary art, interviewing writers and novelists from the regions and cultures affected by the daily politics we see in news.

Interviews by Dani Silver

Read the winning entry of the Emerging Journalists Award in the Spring 2024 issue of JR, as well as on the blog, along with the runners-up.