Newspaper and magazine publishers and radio stations are throwing their support behind a new award scheme run by the Birmingham Press Club to recognise the next generation of journalists.

The inaugural Midlands Media Student Awards are due to take place next March as part of the Press Club's 150th anniversary celebrations and will offer internships to winners of the different categories.

The overall student journalist of the year will receive a six-week internship placement including a basic wage and expenses with Birmingham Post publisher Trinity Mirror Midlands.

Editor-in-chief Marc Reeves said: "The winner will work in our multimedia newsroom, writing for all of our news brands, engaging with a range of tools such as live blogging, video and social media."

Other one-week internships will be awarded with the Express and Star, Tamworth Herald, Worcester News, Orion Media and Quidem Midlands as well as titles across the East Midlands.

ITV News Central is providing a three-day internship while business magazine BQ West Midlands is offering the chance to research and write one of its 1,600-word, three-page interviews.

Press Club chairman Ed James said: "For well over a decade, the Midlands Media Awards has been an important part of the club's calendar, acknowledging the achievements of top journalists, broadcasters and photographers.

"Now, we are pleased to be able to highlight the exciting blend of new talent that is emerging from journalism and media courses - talent that augurs well for the future of regional journalism."

The deadline for entries is January 23, 2015, and the award categories are:

- Business & Finance

- Culture

- Entertainment

- Fashion

- Food and Drink

- Lifestyle

- Politics

- Social Economics

- Sport

- Technology

- Travel

- Student Journalist of the Year (awarded by judges from category winners)