Meet Amrit, Junior Journalist – promoting diversity in the media industry

‘Now more than ever, diversity is being embraced’

Amrit Singh Mann

Junior Journalist, Sky News

Content Academy Ignite Programme

Why did you choose to apply for the Content Academy – Ignite programme at Sky?

Simply because there’s no other programme like it. I’ve not told many people this, but I’m certainly proud of it… I was offered places on award-winning schemes with both ITV News and BBC however, I decided to decline them and join this programme with Sky. I did this because the Content Academy programme has been so uniquely designed, which made me confident I’d get an intense learning experience like no other. And two months in, it’s been exactly that.

What does a day in the life look like for you?

Other than attending daily editorial meetings, it’s quite tricky for me to break down my typical day. If you’re in the media/broadcast industry, you’ve probably heard the saying, “no two days are the same”. The Content Academy takes this old cliché to a whole another level. This month for example, I will be on the road with a camera operator (week one), attached to the Business team (week two), shadowing a reporter/correspondent (week three), and revisiting my favourite area within newsgathering (week four). Additionally, my manager has organised an intensive week-long training on story-writing. It’s jam-packed, but I love it.

What has been the highlight in your role?

Breaking the news on social media about this new job was very special to me. There’s never been a turban-wearing Sikh with aspirations to present on mainstream news before. As much as I enjoy working in TV, representation is a big factor for me. Now more than ever, diversity is being embraced, so it was great see my posts online got a lot of support.

I’ve received messages of congratulations from some high-profile names such as David Haye, Gary Vee, Matt Hancock, Baroness Michelle Mone OBE, and Dutchavelli.

I’ve even been gifted a massive hand-painted portrait by a company who were inspired by my post. The portrait is a replica of my social media post, which shows me sitting in the ‘Glass Box’ studio. I now have the painting hung up at home and leave for work with a reminder of where I want to get to.

The encouragement shown by the public has been overwhelming. I now feel that I’m on a mission to make everyone (including myself) proud.

What was your journey like to win the “Young Inspiration” award at this year’s Slough Youth Awards?

Diversity is important in all industries, but particularly the one I’m in. “The media cannot reflect society, if society is not reflected in the media”.

I won the award for my efforts in “promoting diversity in the media industry on a large scale”. So far, I’ve visited over 10 schools to share with students my journalistic ambitions and how I got to Sky News. Schools in diverse and low-socioeconomic areas have been my primary focus, as I feel this demographic need the most inspiration. I want to prove that you can have big ambitions and go for things that are known to be far bigger and beyond you. Alongside my talks, I have also led journalistic activities/workshops which many students have enjoyed.

I’m inspired by Sky’s commitment to become a more diverse and inclusive organisation. I look forward to visiting more schools across the country and potentially collaborating with my colleagues.

How are you supported in your development?

Sky’s Early Careers team host regular learning labs which are delivered by external training providers. I’ve got a dedicated mentor who checks in with me weekly to discuss anything and everything. The people at Sky News are always supportive and open to help, so I couldn’t ask for much more.

What’s the best thing about working for Sky?

There’s a lot I can say here. The people would be an obvious choice but more importantly to me, it’s the culture. I’d describe it as meritocratic; work hard and get rewarded. As a hardworking and motivated individual, that’s the exact culture I need to excel and succeed.