Bursary in memory of Bob Humphrys

Bob Humphrys worked in newspapers before turning to broadcasting

BBC Wales is announcing a journalism bursary in memory of former sports correspondent Bob Humphrys, who died of cancer in August 2008, aged 56.

The £5,500 Bob Humphrys Bursary will go to an aspiring journalist on the post-graduate course at Cardiff University.

Winners will also have several weeks' work experience at BBC Wales, the largest BBC newsroom outside London.

Mr Humphrys presented Wales Today's sports coverage for 20 years before taking early retirement last year.

Married with three children, he revealed his illness in an article in the Daily Mail in June 2008.

He was a renowned writer at the Western Mail newspaper before turning his hand to broadcasting at BBC Wales. His brother, John Humphrys, is presenter of Radio 4's Today programme.

After many successful years as a presenter and reporter on the BBC Wales current affairs show Week in Week Out, Mr Humphrys moved to Wales Today as sports correspondent.

Both Bob and John Humphrys became successful broadcast journalists

He quickly established himself as the face of Welsh sport for audiences across the country, a role he performed for two decades until his retirement from the BBC in 2008.

In memory of his career both in print and on air, the successful bursary candidate will be expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to a career in the media in Wales.

BBC Wales controller Menna Richards said she was delighted that Mr Humphrys' life and work should be remembered in this way.

She said: "Bob devoted his whole career to bringing news and sports stories to the people of Wales.

"He is very fondly remembered by his friends and colleagues in BBC Wales and of course by the audiences who enjoyed and appreciated his reports and his incisive journalism.

"This bursary offers a wonderful opportunity to follow in Bob's footsteps and become a first-class journalist."

'Letters'

Mr Humphrys' widow, Julie, said she was pleased to hear about the bursary and that it would go to up-and-coming journalists.

She said: "One of the things that was very close to his heart was giving his time to help his colleagues in the newsroom, particularly when they first arrived.

"After he died, we had so many letters from people who said how much he had helped them along the way, so the fact that it is going to a journalist just starting out is very fitting."

The Bob Humphrys Bursary will be the second journalism bursary that BBC Cymru Wales supports at Cardiff University.

Applicants

Applicants for the bursary will have been already accepted by Cardiff University to join its post-graduate journalism course.

If offered a place by the university, applicants will be invited for interview by BBC Wales in order for the bursary to be awarded to the most suitable candidate.

It is anticipated that the university will be conducting interviews and assessments in March and April and the BBC will award the bursary in July.