Action is key to moving the dial on diversity and inclusion in the media industries. Yet to date many companies have focused on talking the talk rather than walking the walk. Nowhere is this more apparent than within the world of stock imagery, not only in the images available but also with the photographers and creatives behind that imagery.

In a bid to rise to this challenge and to promote greater diversity and inclusion in the photography and media industries, Getty Images are offering a series of Inclusion Scholarships, open to photojournalists and photographers around the world. Getty has partnered with a selection of minority photography and journalism organisations globally to launch the scholarships designed to support emerging editorial talent within minority groups.

The series of scholarships, totalling $50,000, will offer aspiring photojournalists the creative means and solutions to pursue education that will help them enable careers within the industry.

Getty have partnered with five organisations to award five $10,000 scholarship grants. These include Women Photograph, Creative Access, National Association of Black Journalists, Asian American Journalists Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

“The Inclusion Scholarships are a continuation of our commitment to foster greater representation and inclusion within the photographic and photojournalism industries,” said Ken Mainardis, Senior Vice President of Content at Getty Images. “Since Getty Images was founded 25 years ago, our mission has been to move the world with visuals and accurately represent the society we live in, inclusive of all voices and perspectives.”

In order to apply for the scholarships, applicants will be asked to submit a biography, essay and examples of their work. This will then be reviewed by a panel made up of members from Getty Images and their partner organisations before the successful candidates are selected.

The Getty Images Inclusion Scholarships are part of the organisation’s wider Grants programme, which since it was launched has donated over $1.6 million to photographers and videographers around the world.

These scholarships have been designed to go to the root of the problem, to address the issue of representation across the industry right at the entry point to it. The grants offer access to education but also a chance for the industry to gain an editorial eye from a more diverse perspective.

Application dates vary between the partner organisations. Visit Getty Images’ website to find out more.