Category: News; bbc.co.uk
Date: 21.05.2005
Printable version
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ News has announced a new bursary
for journalists to work on its news website bbc.co.uk - the bursary
is in honour of Ivan Noble, the science and technology
reporter who died of a brain tumour earlier this year.
Ìý
Ivan, who was 37, died after a two-year fight against
a brain tumour.
Ìý
He wrote a regular 'tumour diary' on the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ News website.
Ìý
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ News site will be offering an annual, six-month
bursary to a journalist at the start of his or her career.
Ìý
The bursary, which will be advertised shortly, will
be awarded to a journalist who has recently completed a journalism course
or has less than two years' journalistic experience.
Ìý
They will also have a passion for science and technology.
Ìý
Over the six months, the bursary winner will work on
the science and technology sections of the website, will research and
write news reports and features, and will learn a wide range of skills
for reporting for the web.
Ìý
Pete Clifton, Editor of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ News Interactive, said the
bursary was an ongoing commitment to help reporters to learn the skills
of web journalism.
Ìý
He said: "When Ivan died, many readers asked what we
would do as a lasting tribute to him.
Ìý
"We think the bursary is a fitting thing to do - we
want to encourage a new journalist with the same passion for science
and technology that Ivan had."
Ìý
Ivan's wife Almut welcomed the announcement. She said:
"Ivan's illness was only a very short period of his life and the bursary
is there to remember his life before he was ill.
Ìý
"He was a science and technology writer and this is
what the bursary marks.
Ìý
"I'm very pleased and honoured that the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ has chosen
to remember his professional life before he was ill."
Ìý
Ivan's tumour diary was a regular feature on the site
from September 2002 to the last entry, on 31 January 2005 - the day
he died.
Ìý
It followed his battle through remissions and relapses
and provoked thousands of emails of support and tribute.
Ìý
The book of his diary entries, entitled Like a Hole
in the Head and published by Hodder & Stoughton, features some of these
tributes.
Ìý
The book's title comes from a comment Ivan made after
being told he needed more brain surgery. His response: "I need another
craniotomy like I need a hole in the head."
Ìý
The book also features interviews with people who have
lost relatives to brain tumours, as well as doctors trained in breaking
the bad news of terminal illness.
Ìý
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s proceeds from the book will go to Medecins
Sans Frontieres UK, the charity chosen by Ivan.
