Four executives from India and one each from Australia, China, Fiji, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam are among the 50 named for INMA’s Google-sponsored Elevate scholarships.

Winners get access to three of the group’s masterclasses, a mentoring “meet-up” with INMA and Google, a scholarship certificate and a year’s membership.

Recipients from 29 countries were selected from 137 applications and will receive training and mentoring through INMA and the Google News Initiative.

The actual Elevate Scholarship programme runs two years and aims to strengthen the news business by equipping new faces and voices with strong media industry fundamentals as well as networking and mentoring opportunities.

Historically under-represented and disadvantaged groups – such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, access to higher education, immigration and disabilities – in early to mid-career positions are a focus.

INMA executive director and chief executive Earl Wilkinson says removing obstacles for equitable inclusion in news industry training and development can “shatter the glass ceiling” for professionals from under-represented groups, which hampers innovation and the future of news media.

Google head of news and Americas partnership solutions Chrissy Towle says diversity and inclusion are vital for next-generation news media growth: “The business of news media is jeopardised without novel ideas and innovation from a range of perspectives that represent the communities we serve.

“The Elevate Scholarship Class of 2021 represents the highest aspirations of media professionals and the news industry.”

Scholars from Asia and Australasia are:

Australia– Mehru Roshan (Product Manager, News Corp Australia);

China– Deyi Li (Editor, CGTN);

Fiji– Shratika Shivanandani Naidu (North Editor, Sun News);

India– Debosmita Meshram (Chief Product Manager, Jagran New Media); Saba Rahman (Deputy Associate Editor, The Indian Express Online); Amal Ravi (Deputy Manager, KSL Media); and Aparna Seth (Subscription Growth Manager, Newslaundry);

Indonesia– Ratna Sri Widyastuti (Head of Data Science and Product Research, Kompas Media Nusantar);

Taiwan– Yung-yi (Bryan) Chou (Editor/Writer, The News Lens);

The Philippines– Stephanie Sison (Deputy Managing Editor, Preview.ph, Summit Media Publishing); and Marienelle Monique Elicay (Assistant Managing Editor, Summit Media); and

Vietnam– Phat Le Do Ngoc (Deputy Editor, Zing News).

Other successful scholars from around the world are: Ria Brown (The Guardian, UK); Liqi Chen (Dow Jones, USA); Shelley Cook (Winnipeg Free Press, Canada); Jesús García Cruz (Grupo Expansión, Mexico); Laura Curanaj (Dow Jones, USA); Emmanuel Ebo-Hawkson (Graphic Communications Group, Ghana); Catherine Edwards (The Local, Austria); Miriam Espinosa (Mediahuis Ireland, Ireland); Njenga Hakeenah (The Exchange Africa, Kenya); Sheena Hakimian (Condé Nast, USA); Muhammad Hussain (Media24 - City Press, South Africa); Ryan Yeol Jang (Korea Daily, USA); Joseph Jibueze (The Nation, Nigeria); Andreas Kamasah (Pulse Ghana, Ghana); Katie Kutsko (American Press Institute, USA); Lucina Lo (Globe and Mail, Canada); Bongekile Macupe (Media24, South Africa); Mahlohonolo Magadla (Media Park, South Africa); Francisco Marrero (GFR Media, Puerto Rico); Maira Meija (Delfi Latvia, Latvia); Marina Menezes (Nexo Jornal, Brazil); Sisonke Mlamla (Independent Media, South Africa); Fabiola Mousinho (Público, Portugal); Muchemwa Silence Mugadzaweta (Alpha Media Holdings, Zimbabwe); Lynette Mukami (Nation Media Group, Kenya); Katarzyna Ostrowska (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland); Janice Pereira (The Times and Sunday Times, UK); Prashant Rao (The Atlantic, UK); Dorea Reeser (Chemical & Engineering News, USA); Ely Ilkania Alcantara Reyes (Multimedios del Caribe, Dominican Republic); Dhruti Shah (BBC, UK); Zubiya Shaikh (Arab News, United Arab Emirates); Mikkel Sloth (Ekstra Bladet, Denmark); Talia Smith (Yung Lords Media, USA); Victor Tisnado (Corporacion La Prensa, Panama); Jalah Touryalai (Gannett, USA); Kevin Valani (SaltWire, Canada); and Gunther Wellman (Prensa Libre, Guatemala).

Pictured: Amal Ravi and Saba Rahman