Journalism bursary award winner with political promise

Vadim Goss becomes the fifteenth recipient of a Guild of St Bride’s journalism bursary, having won a £4,000 award towards the cost of taking up a place on a postgraduate newspaper journalism course this autumn at City University, London, which becomes City St George’s in the new year.

He was selected from a shortlist of three student applicants interviewed at City University by City journalism MA course director Jonathan Hewett, Master of the Guild of St Bride, Lord Black, Clerk to the Guild, David Blackwell, and Guild Court member Simon Greaves.

The bursary scheme is in its twelfth year supporting students with course fee funding, mentoring links and networking opportunities through church connections.

The 20-year-old, from Dartmouth, Devon, studied A-levels at a state-funded community college before attending Durham University where he graduated this year in English literature.

He aims to develop his interests in writing and political journalism, working towards his ambition to become a columnist for a leading broadsheet newspaper.

Vadim said he was extremely grateful to the Guild for the award, saying: “I greatly look forward to having them in my corner.”

In his own words, he explains his background: “I was first drawn to journalism after watching [the film] Citizenfour, shortly after the Edward Snowden and NSA spying scandal first broke, for the very simple reason that it revealed to me the profession’s impetus and social responsibility. Ever since, I have held a particular interest in political journalism – specifically, its relationship to the electorate and to politics itself as a practice.

“I grew up as a young carer to my mother since I was about 10, and because of this I have grown up first-hand in a social care system that has overburdened young carers – often making me feel silent. Journalism offers me a chance to have a voice, and more importantly, to use it. Ultimately, it is my ambition as a journalist to illuminate injustice and correct it.

“During my time at Durham University I have been an active member of its journalism scene. A member of St Mary’s College, I served as president of its journalism society and as the editor-in-chief of its college newspaper. Most notably, I have been an ed-board member of Durham’s award-winning student newspaper Palatinate as an editor of its comment section. Additionally, I have been a contributor for numerous student publications at Durham, including Palatinate, Indigo magazine and Wayzgoose magazine, with my pieces ranging from politics to sport to culture.

“My studies cultivated an interest in the relationship between literary aesthetic and a reader’s response; and how this can affect the efficacy of a journalistic piece. This is something I am looking forward to exploring further during my studies at City. In my spare time, I like to read, play rugby and walk my dog through the valleys of Devon.”

Written by: Simon Greaves, Video Revise Editor, Financial Times, and member of the Guild of St Bride’s