We’re delighted to announce that Jonathan Paterson will become the new Chair of the John Schofield Trust. 

Jonathan has been involved with the Trust as a supporter, advisor and mentor since 2013. Jonathan is currently Contributing Editor at The News Movement, a visiting lecturer at City St George’s, University of London, and was previously Head of Video at BBC News.

Our current Chair, Susie Schofield, will step down from trustee duties in June. Susie will remain a core part of our work as Founder, where she’ll be available to advise and attend our major events. Susie has been on the board since she founded the Trust with friends and colleagues of John Schofield, with the aim of creating a meaningful memorial to John, and has been at the forefront of our growth and success.

Susie commented: “Having been a trustee from the John Schofield Trust’s very beginning in 1996, and with this year marking the 30th anniversary of John’s death, it feels like a natural and meaningful moment to step down from the board. I am hugely proud of what the Trust has achieved and that John’s name continues to be remembered in the news industry. I leave with a heart full of confidence in the board and our Director, Howard Littler. The energy and vision I saw at our recent strategic planning meeting confirms that the Trust’s future is secure.”

On Susie’s departure from the board after almost 30 years, Jonathan said: “Susie founded the most wonderful project out of the most tragic of circumstances. There are now hundreds of journalists who have been helped in their careers through the work of the Trust and its supporters. There is no greater endorsement of Susie’s tireless work than the fact that we now have former mentees as mentors, ensuring our work to improve social mobility in journalism continues. It is an honour and huge responsibility to be taking over from her as Chair as we continue in our ambition for journalism to reflect the audiences it serves.”

The Chair has many important duties including leading board meetings and managing the Director. Jonathan was elected into the Chair role through a unanimous vote of the trustees.

When Susie leaves the board in June, the board position reserved for a person nominated by the Schofield family will be occupied by her nephew Jack Aldwinckle. Jack teaches history in secondary schools in London and before this was a journalist both in the UK and South America.

The John Schofield Trust helps aspiring and early career journalists navigate the profession through its world-class mentoring scheme. it currently pairs around 200 early career and student journalists a year with experienced journalists, for 12 months of individual mentoring, masterclasses and networking opportunities.

For press enquires contact info@johnschofieldtrust.org.uk