With a huge sigh of relief we launched the application process for the third cohort of Northern Lights last week. After training and transitioning over thirty graduates and new entrants in the region into the media industry in 2009, we will get the chance to squeeze in another sixteen this year, before the political will and funding in some quarters runs out.
With more and more media graduates looking for their big break, it is essential that programmes such as this continue to run. We enable the potentially most talented individuals, who have a shiny degree certificate and raw talent but not much else, to build contacts and industry links. Without these they will find trying to follow their passion to create a lot harder.
Northern Lights is a four week new entrant multiplatform producer programme – or digital boot camp (a term coined by previous recruits) – which is there to expose talented new entrants looking to build a career in TV, radio, digital or gaming. What is unique about the programme is that the sixteen recruits will be embedded in some of the region’s leading media companies. In the past these have included the BBC, McCann-Erickson, Mando, Milky Tea, Made in Manchester and Onteca
This November those accepted onto the programme will get the chance to work in the BBC again, Fudge – one of the region’s leading digital agencies; Chillingo – the UK’s top mobile game publisher and Key 103.
With over 100 pre-registered, competition to get on should be tough. However, I am unlikely to be able to gauge his until the last minute. Why? As ever people will leave it until the last moment to apply – 20th September.
Do us a favour. Send your applications in early. We can’t promise it will be looked at more favourably but it will almost certainly get more attention than if its one of fifty on the closing day.
To find out about the application process click here.
