Broadcasters launch Nick Sheridan bursary scheme
2025-01-14
Category: entertainment

A student bursary award has been launched in honour of BBC Scotland journalist Nick Sheridan, who died suddenly last March at the age of 32.He had presented programmes including Reporting Scotland, Drivetime, the Nine and Seven Days since joining the corporation in 2018.BBC Scotland, STV, and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) - where he was a part-time lecturer - have jointly created the Nick Sheridan Memorial Bursary scheme.The successful applicant will be granted £1,500 plus a week's paid work experience at both BBC Scotland and STV after graduation.
The award will be made to a final year student studying either the BA (Hons) Television, Radio & Podcast Production course or BA (Hons) Journalism/Sport Journalism course at UWS.They will be selected based on their third year course work.BBC Scotland, STV and UWS will jointly fund and oversee the scheme.The first award is due to be made at the start of the next academic year in autumn 2025. 
Originally from Wexford in Ireland, Sheridan had worked in broadcasting for more than a decade.He had previously spent two years reporting and presenting RTE News2day, the young person's news programme for Ireland's national broadcaster, before moving to the main newsroom where he worked on the foreign affairs desk.He joined BBC Scotland as a researcher, before becoming in turn a camera journalist, correspondent and presenter.He left his staff post to focus on writing children's books but continued as a regular freelance presenter on BBC Scotland's radio and TV news programmes.Sheridan also taught on the Television, Radio & Podcast Production course at UWS.
'New talent'
Hayley Valentine, director of BBC Scotland, said: "Nick was the heart and soul of the BBC Scotland newsroom, and we miss him every day. "I'm delighted we're able to announce this bursary in his name with our partners at STV and UWS."It's a fitting tribute and I hope it helps students capable of matching Nick's considerable talent realise that potential."Linda Grimes Douglas, head of news and current affairs at STV, said: "Nick was a highly skilled broadcaster and an impeccable journalist with a natural flair for storytelling. "We are so pleased to be partnering with BBC Scotland and UWS in the creation of this special bursary, to support new broadcast and published journalism talent in his name."Prof Kasim Sheikh of UWS said Sheridan made a "huge impact" on the lives of their students."It is wonderful that this award will support the next generation of students as they consider careers in the broadcast industries," he said.Speaking on behalf of Sheridan's family, his brother Brian Sheridan said: "We are humbled and truly grateful to the BBC, STV and the UWS for coming together to develop this bursary in Nick's name, of which he would be so proud."Nick was hugely passionate about developing the talents of future journalists, and this bursary offers a wonderful opportunity for a young person to honour this passion for media in his name."