WHO'd be a journalist, hey? Only marginally less hated than politicians and lawyers, we get a bad rap from all that shoddy door stepping and phone tapping of our tabloid cousins.  

We're told it's an industry in decline — ravaged by the dominance of free-to-read content, online news sites, Google and Facebook, and 24-hour news channels. Oversaturated.  

But don't discount us just yet. Grassroots journalism like that at the List is thriving despite these massive changes. Going out, talking to people, getting the insights and staying ahead of the news is what we do. We report on the maritime industry, but we also reflect this industry. 

So it is nice to be able to report some positive news. On Monday night we officially launched the Lloyd's List Tom Leander Internship at sponsor Norton Rose Fulbright's 3 More London Riverside offices.

Conceived of as a way of bringing new blood into maritime journalism while honouring our former editor and much loved-colleague Tom Leander, the internship will be held annually during the summer months in London. 

It's a pretty amazing gig: fully paid, with travel, and lots of industry experience. 

I mean, what other intern gets to spend time with Maritime London; UK Chamber of Shipping; International Chamber of Shipping; Lloyd's Register; Inmarsat; ABP Ports; Braemar; Elabor8; Human Rights at Sea and the Maritime Skills Alliance? I just need to get our inaugural Tom Leander fellow onboard a vessel. Know anyone with one of those?

Our intern Kuganiga Kuganeswaran gets this experience because of the generosity of the UK maritime industry. That is something to be very proud of. 

So who would be a journalist? My hope is as many young people as possible. Get them in at the grassroots and watch them fly. 

Kuganiga Kuganeswaran, a second-year philosophy student at University College London topped a field of over 140 applicants from across the UK and Europe. She will be blogging and tweeting regularly about her experience as the inaugural Tom Leander fellow.

To follow Kuganiga's blog click here.

For more information on the Lloyd's List Tom Leander Internship please visit.