ASPIRING broadcast journalists have criticised the BBC after Glasgow was axed from the corporation’s prestigious journalist training scheme.

The programme has proved popular over the years, offering 10 months of paid training with the broadcaster, and Glasgow has been the first choice for many who have secured a place on it.

However, the city is no longer an option.

According to the BBC Careers website: “You will undertake training while working alongside news teams creating content for multiple platforms.

“You’ll get hands-on experience involving researching, writing and broadcasting news.

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“We offer general journalism trainee places around the UK which means you could be working in one of our newsrooms or news programmes in London, Salford, Cardiff, Shetland or Orkney.”

English language places are available in Cardiff, while applicants for a Welsh language or Scottish placement have to complete a separate application form.

One Scottish graduate who was waiting for the scheme to open for applications told The National the BBC’s decision to axe Glasgow was “shocking”.

“It will definitely discourage Scots from applying,” she said, adding that she no longer wanted to apply for the scheme.

“Orkney and Shetland are far from home for many people who live in Central Scotland or the Borders and expensive to travel home to and they may not want to travel to London or Salford either. I certainly don’t.”

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Another said that while Orkney and Shetland were both good locations, travelling home to see his family and friends south of Edinburgh would cause him problems.

“I’d love to train on Orkney or Shetland but it’s simply not practical,” he said.

“I think the BBC may pay for accommodation and travel costs, but there’s also the logistics of getting back to the mainland from the islands.

“It’s not just jumping in the car and spending an hour on the M8 – it’s a major exercise.”

Popular degree courses are offered at universities across Scotland, including Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian, Edinburgh Napier, Stirling and Robert Gordon in Aberdeen.

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In recent days, both BBC Radio Orkney and Radio Shetland have both advertised for applicants on the scheme.

BBC Orkney posted on its Facebook page: “If you’re from Orkney or have connections to the county this could be your opportunity to get into broadcasting with BBC Radio Orkney. The BBC is looking to recruit a trainee to work at the station

“The successful candidate will be part of the BBC’s Journalism Trainee Scheme (JTS) and will get a full range of in-depth training including radio and television production as well as social media and on-line.”

Likewise, BBC Radio Shetland said on Facebook: “BBC Shetland is hiring for a trainee on the BBC’s prestigious Journalism Trainee Scheme.

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“The successful applicant will receive a year of work and training with industry experts, learn skills across Radio, TV, and Online, and get to work with a great team of folks (even if we do say so ourselves).”

BBC Scotland denied that Glasgow had been axed. A spokesperson said: “BBC Scotland News has been and remains committed to the Journalist Trainee Scheme.

“Our Trainees are offered permanent staff jobs and migrate from the scheme after 10 months to staff positions; we therefore carefully consider where people will move. Each year our placement areas change according to where we want to focus new trainees and where the business sees a need.

“This year the successful trainees will get placements in our very popular and busy community radio stations in Orkney and Shetland. These are great places for new journalists to start their careers as they get lots of experience very quickly.”