Bristol Media has awarded a coveted apprenticeship, which includes a visit to the world’s largest interactive conference, to 22-year-old Jasmine Thompson.
Jasmime, pictured, from Montpelier, will now join leading digital industry figures and influencers from across the globe at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, next March. 
She will accompany a 22-strong delegation from Bristol and Bath to SXSW and will be expected to produce ‘live’ content during the conference and a larger piece of curated content post-event.
She will also get the chance to learn from the inspiring international industry figures speaking at the conference and hear about cutting-edge trends in the sector. SXSW speakers in the past have included Barack Obama and Al Gore.
Ahead of the trip, Jasmine will spend five months on an intensive mentoring programme conducted by two leading creative industry figures in Bristol to provide her with the skills needed to launch a successful career when she returns.
Bristol Media teamed up with the city’s Babbasa youth empowerment organisation to invite young people to apply for the apprenticeship. They had to produce 500 words on their passion for pursuing a career in digital media alongside multimedia examples of projects linked to their school, work or hobbies.
Out of the 15 submissions received, eight applicants were interviewed by a panel of judges including Bristol Media board director Chris Thurling, Ed Thomas, founder of Doubleshot TV, and Babbasa advisory board member Urfan Ali.
Chris Thurling said: “The long-term future of our creative industry depends on local agencies and businesses broadening their search for talent and offering entry level opportunities like apprenticeships.
“This high-profile initiative is just one aspect of a series of commitments made by Bristol Media to support the growth of the city’s creative sector from the ground up and to develop the professional aspirations of local young people irrespective of their backgrounds.”
Jasmine, whose career interests include editorial illustration and writing, storyboarding and character design, found out she had won the apprenticeship at the closing party of Social Media Week via a live link with a SXSW representative in Texas.
She said: “I couldn’t believe that the panel had chosen me from all the other candidates but I’m so excited by this opportunity and to be visiting SXSW in Austin is a dream come true.”
The initiative has been part funded by a crowdfunding campaign with Bristol Media’s 600-strong membership contributing £3,000 towards the costs of the project.
