NEW SCHOLARSHIP HELPS MĀORI AND PASIFIKA STUDENTS TELL AOTEAROA’S STORIES

Called the Penguin Random House Māori and Pacific Publishing Scholarship, it aims to reduce barriers to equity and diversity and to increase inclusivity in publishing in Aotearoa, by funding one Māori or Pasifika student to study the Graduate Diploma in Publishing at Whitireia Community Polytechnic Ltd each year.

Head of Publishing at Penguin Random House New Zealand, Claire Murdoch, says, “Our industry needs fresh blood in the form of many more young, diverse and indigenous people reflecting the changing population – and concerns – of Aotearoa New Zealand, to join the trade, now and into the future.

“There could be no other partner for this initiative. The Whitireia Graduate Diploma in Publishing is the gold standard in training in books and is hugely respected as a successful vocational programme with exceptionally strong, practical links to industry and high levels of graduate employment.”

Senior Tutor Odessa Owens says, “Graduates from the Whitireia Graduate Diploma in Publishing are well equipped to tell Aotearoa’s stories and find work both within and beyond traditional book publishing. We’re thrilled to announce this partnership and to welcome more Māori and Pasifika students to study with us.

The successful student will also be supported to travel to Penguin’s head office in Auckland twice during their year of study to gain hands-on experience in Aotearoa’s biggest local and international publishing house in the acquisition, production, marketing, publicity, sales and distribution of books, ebooks and audiobooks.

Says Murdoch, “Penguin Random House and other New Zealand publishers have long published the voices of talented tangata whenua and Pasifika writers as part of our work, and readers in New Zealand and around the world have embraced this work. Now more than ever, this is true.

“This scholarship is one small way to clear a career pathway and to create workplaces that are diverse and inclusive, better reflecting our community, our customers and our readers.”

More info here: Penguin Random House Māori and Pacific Publishing Scholarship