Young journalists from UK and US join the Mail

Some of last year's trainees - including those from America

The search for young journalists to join the Mail's training schemes has just about finished. After months of CV-sifting by my colleague Mike Watson and three weeks of interviews, we have finally selected trainees for MailOnline, the sport desk, Femail, the Mail newsroom and subs desk. They will begin the training scheme in September. 

Next week interviews are taking place with Sue Ryan in New York for trainee online journalists for DailyMail.com. The successful applicants will be trained for three weeks in the US and then head over to Britain to work at the Mail and regional newspapers before returning to America. This follows-on from last year's scheme where five young Americans spent five months training and working on UK newspapers. 

The Mail, along with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, is also offering places on the scheme to two people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Mail has long-supported the family of Stephen, who was murdered at 18 in 1993.  Applications for these scholarships must be in by this Monday. Here's how to apply.

All in all, that is a lot of young people who will be joining the Mail this year. I look forward to working with them.