TV
Nick Sheridan bursary scheme launched
The bursary scheme is in honour of late journalist Nick Sheridan who died last year…
A student bursary award has been created in honour of journalist Nick Sheridan who died suddenly last year at the age of 32. Organisations that Nick was associated with since moving to Scotland from his native Ireland have jointly launched the Nick Sheridan Memorial Bursary.
Linda Grimes Douglas, Head of News and Current Affairs at STV:
“Nick was a highly skilled broadcaster and an impeccable journalist with a natural flair for storytelling. His talent and warm sense of humour made him a pleasure to have in the newsroom.
“We are so pleased to be partnering with BBC Scotland and the University of the West of Scotland in the creation of this special bursary, to support new broadcast and published journalism talent in his name.”
Nick Sheridan RTÉ
BBC Scotland, STV, and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), the latter where he was a part-time lecturer, have created the commemorative bursary scheme. The award will be made to a final year student studying either the BA (Hons) Television, Radio & Podcast Production course or BA (Hons) Journalism/Sport Journalism course at UWS.
The bursary will be jointly funded by BBC Scotland and STV, where Nick broadcast as a reporter and presenter during his career in Scotland, and UWS will select the winning candidate from their 3rd year course work as well as administering the commemorative scheme. The first award is due to be made for the start of the next academic year in autumn 2025. The successful applicant will be granted £1,500 plus a week’s paid work experience at both BBC Scotland and STV after graduation.
Alongside a hugely successful journalism career at BBC Scotland and STV, Nick also taught on the Television, Radio & Podcast production course at UWS, and he was passionate about supporting the development of future talent in the industry.
Hayley Valentine, Director, BBC Scotland:
“Nick was the heart and soul of the BBC Scotland newsroom, and we miss him every day. I’m delighted we’re able to announce this bursary in his name with our partners at STV and UWS.
“It’s a fitting tribute and I hope it helps students capable of matching Nick’s considerable talent realise that potential. I look forward to meeting the first recipient of the Nick Sheridan Memorial Bursary later this year.”
Nick Sheridan STV
Originally from Wexford in Ireland, Sheridan joined RTÉ in 2014 and presented RTE News2day, the Irish version of Newsround aimed at a youth audience. In 2016 he moved over to the foreign affairs newsdesk at RTE.
After three years with RTÉ he joined Scotland’s commercial television company STV, reading the news on STV and STV2, the latter of which led to him making the headlines himself when he got into a fit of giggles over a story about a drunken rampage by nude male pensioner running amok in a luxury hotel.
Since 2018 Nick has been a regular face on the Beeb in Scotland hosting programming on BBC One Scotland, Radio Scotland and the BBC Scotland Channel as a correspondent and presenter. He was one of a rotation of presenters on programmes such as Reporting Scotland, The Nine, Seven Days and on radio Good Morning Scotland.
He first joined BBC Scotland as a researcher and since 2020 became a regular freelance presenter for the BBC as he moved into new lines of work including writing books for young children, including, ‘Breaking News’ (2021), ‘The Case of the Phantom Treasure’ (2022) and ‘The Case of the Runaway Brain’ (2023). A fourth book was released last year, ‘A Case of the Poisonous Pigs‘ posthumously.
Nick Sheridan BBC
On behalf of Nick’s family, his brother Brian said of the Nick Sheridan Memorial Bursary:
“We are humbled and truly grateful to the BBC, STV and the University of the West of Scotland for coming together to develop this bursary in Nick’s name, of which he would be so proud. Nick was hugely passionate about developing the talents of future journalists, and this bursary offers a wonderful opportunity for a young person to honour this passion for media in his name.”
Professor Dr. Kasim N. Sheikh, Dean of the School of Business & Creative Industries at UWS added: “Nick Sheridan made a huge impact on the lives of UWS students during his time with us. He was generous with his expertise, his time, and his humanity. The University has an excellent track record of producing work-ready graduates and it is wonderful that this award, made in his name by the BBC and STV, will support the next generation of students as they consider careers in the Broadcast industries.”
Nick Sheridan
