The Douglas Myers Media Scholarship was established by the New Zealand Business Roundtable in 2002 in recognition of the media's role in engaging the public in intelligent debate on issues which are crucial to the achievement of the economic, social and cultural aspirations of New Zealanders.

The Scholarship also honours Douglas Myers' role as a former chairman of the organisation and his contributions to business and public affairs. It facilitates overseas travel for young people working in the New Zealand media. The aim of the Scholarship is to give successful applicants the opportunity to broaden their knowledge about issues and ideas that need to be widely understood and debated if New Zealand is to be a successful country.

The inaugural 2002 New Zealand Business Roundtable Douglas Myers Media Scholarship was jointly awarded to Christine Nikiel, an Auckland-based writer with the National Business Review, and Kevin Taylor, now a political reporter in the Parliamentary Press Gallery for The New Zealand Herald.

The 2003 New Zealand Business Roundtable Douglas Myers Media Scholarship was jointly awarded to Jane O’Loughlin, a transport reporter for Radio New Zealand, and Colin Espiner, the political editor of the Christchurch Press.

What is the Scholarship?

The Douglas Myers Media Scholarship is worth a total of $30,000 per year. This may be granted to one successful applicant, or divided between a maximum of three candidates.

Each year the Scholarship offers one or more successful applicants the chance to travel to Europe, the United Kingdom or North America to research and prepare material which, when published or produced, promotes public understanding in New Zealand of lessons of international success. Full journalistic freedom applies to material produced.

The Scholarship covers up to 80 percent of costs, including economy-class return airfares, travel and medical insurance, per diem allowances, visa and airport taxes. The Scholarship does not cover film stock or photographic costs, or communication costs.

The term of the Scholarship shall be no longer than three months and no less than three weeks.

Eligibility

The scholarship is open to print, radio and/or television journalists, reporters, producers, researchers and editors in the early stages of their careers. Usually an age limit of 35 will apply.

Applicants may be currently employed in the media (not public relations), or may be outstanding new graduates who wish to work in the media and can provide examples of work already published or produced as course requisites.

Candidates must show a developing ability to conduct investigative research, and a genuine interest in public policy and how it affects the future of New Zealand.

Who administers the Scholarship?

The Douglas Myers Media Scholarship is administered by a panel of five judges.

The judges vary from year to year. For the 2003 Scholarship the panel consisted of: Warwick Roger (convenor), editor-at-large, North & South magazine; Suzanne Carty, former editor, The Evening Post; Barry Soper, political editor, Independent Radio News; George Andrews, independent television producer; and Roger Kerr, executive director of the New Zealand Business Roundtable.

Douglas Myers

Douglas Myers was chief executive and subsequently chairman of Lion Nathan Limited. He was the chairman of the New Zealand Business Roundtable from 1990 to 1997.