Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity Industry Fellowships 2022

For the second year, the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity (LHC) is offering 5 grants of up to £3K each to support short turnaround research by industry practitioners.

The purpose of these research grants is to better inform policy and practice that will address diversity deficits across different sectors of the media industry.

They are open to media practitioners with a minimum of 5 years professional experience who wish to look more closely at the challenges and opportunities in their own sector.

Each successful applicant will be teamed with an academic mentor and the research will need to be completed by July 1st 2022. We would expect the research to take 4 weeks full time or the equivalent part-time. You must be available to do the work at this time.

Completed research will be published on the LHC website and considered for publication in the journal Representology.

Please visit the website to read our previous 5 grant recipients’ research. The reports (Industry Fellowships were called PIMID last year) are by Emma Butt, Kate Ansell, Riaz Meer, Nina Robinson and Cherish Oteka. Previous applicants of the scheme said:

"Working with the Lenny Henry Centre meant that my work was taken seriously. I was able to engage with people who mattered and ask difficult questions. The resultant study is proving to be an important tool. It is helping Trade Unions to reflect on how they operate and to think about what improvements are possible."

Riaz Meer

"The PIMID grant provided a rare, important and much-needed opportunity for the exploration of Black representation in UK documentaries. I'm so pleased to have done this work and to have been thoroughly supported by academics at the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity. I'd encourage all who have the desire to deeply explore the industries they work in to apply for this round of PIMID grants."

Cherish Oteka

To apply, please email Professor Diane Kemp, Director of the Centre (diane.kemp@bcu.ac.uk) with a brief outline of:

  1. The central question you would like to address and evidence of why it is important now
  2. The aim and methodology of your proposed research
  3. Your current role, your qualifications and experience relevant to the proposal
  4. How you hope your research might inform wider and more effective participation in particular roles and sectors of the media industry
  5. Two professional referees who may be contacted in relation to your application.

The closing date for applications is April 11 2022 and you can expect a response within 3 weeks of the closing date.