To mark World Press Freedom Day this Saturday (3 May), Scottish Beacon publishing partner, Migrant Women Press (MWP), has announced the launch of the Migrant Women Press Fellowship, a six-month programme that will train, mentor, and publish the work of 15 migrant women and women of colour journalists. The initiative aims to elevate stories that are often overlooked or underreported in mainstream media.
MWP is currently raising £16,000 through a community-powered crowdfunding campaign, with every donation supporting paid fellowships, editorial mentorship, and in-depth journalism training.
“The stories we cover come from a unique perspective, from journalists with lived experience,” said the MWP team. “We want to give them the tools to produce quality public interest journalism and help them build a career in this tough industry.”
“Migrant Women Press is more than a media organisation for me,” added Nikita Jain, editor at MWP. “It’s a space to explore important, often ignored issues that matter globally.”
Akansha Deshmukh, an investigative journalist and contributor, said: “MWP is vital because it amplifies the authentic voices of migrant women, who are often misrepresented or silenced.”
Shifting the Narrative
Launching in August 2025, the Migrant Women Press Fellowship will:
- Provide paid publishing opportunities to 15 emerging journalists from migrant and racialised backgrounds.
- Offer mentorship from experienced journalists and editors.
- Deliver practical training in trauma-informed reporting, investigative journalism, data and AI tools, and more.
- Culminate in a print edition showcasing original, in-depth stories.
Each fellow will be supported financially and editorially to produce public interest journalism on issues such as health, education, climate, social justice and labour: stories that reach audiences far beyond borders.
Why It Matters Now
In a media landscape still predominately dominated by white, middle-class voices, migrant women and women of colour often struggle to find a platform. The fellowship responds to this inequity with real investment in the talents and perspectives that are too often excluded.
Over the past five years, Migrant Women Press has published over 200 original stories by more than 80 women from over 30 countries, all powered by volunteers and modest grant funding. Now, MWP is asking the public to help take that impact to the next level.
How Your Support Helps
Every contribution directly funds training and storytelling:
- £20: One-to-one mentoring session for a fellow
- £150: Two-hour expert-led fact-checking workshop
- £350: Investigative journalism skills session for all fellows
- £500: Accredited trauma-informed reporting training
A full cost breakdown and impact plan is available through the campaign.
Join the Movement
The crowdfunding campaign runs until 26 July 2025. Donations can be made via the button below.
Your support will not only fund journalism, it will fuel a movement for inclusive media led by migrant women who know the power of storytelling firsthand.
