Wiki Biography / Profile Background
Introduction :
- Shingi Mararike is a journalist and a former correspondent for The Sunday Times, covering a wide range of national and international news issues as a general reporter with a focus on news and investigations. Since starting his career in 2018, Shingi has dedicated his writing to exploring racial issues, social mobility, and youth violence.
Personal Life, Parents and Family Details :
- Born and raised in Newham, East London, Shingi Mararike is a true “East London lad.” He comes from a family of two, with a brother named Shumi and a devoted mother named Carol Gurajeno.
- Carol played a remarkable role in Shingi’s life, fulfilling both parental roles and demonstrating exceptional strength. Growing up in their modest two-bedroom home in Newham, Shingi developed a sense of independence and resilience. He acknowledges his mother as a superwoman who effectively handled their family responsibilities, allowing him to navigate life without the presence of a father. Shingi remains grateful for his mum’s unwavering support and the stable upbringing she provided.
- In his Byline article (June 16, 2019), Shingi shared that he has never had the opportunity to celebrate Father’s Day due to his father’s absence. His father left before Shingi was born, and he occasionally looks through old family photo albums to see a picture of them meeting at the airport when Shingi was around two years old. Despite his father’s brief visits, Shingi has only seen him twice in his life. The last encounter occurred when Shingi was ten years old, and his father, still sporting plaits in his hair, gave him and his brother some money before leaving abruptly.
- Now as an adult, Shingi enjoys socialising with fellow journalists, attending concerts, and staying active through tennis, running, and gym visits.
Early Life and Education :
- Shingi pursued his passion for journalism from a young age. He discovered his ability to write for money at around 14 years old and set his sights on becoming a journalist. He initially planned to work as a sports journalist due to his love for tennis, even starting a sports blog on tennis that his mother spent time editing.
- From 2014 to 2017, Shingi completed his bachelor’s degree in English, British, and Commonwealth Literature at the University of Warwick. During his undergraduate years, he revised and worked on “The Boar,” a paper he wrote, and served as editor-in-chief.
- In September 2017, Shingi completed a 22-week fast-track program at News Associates, officially the top NCTJ journalism school in the UK, and earned a gold-standard diploma in NCTJ Fast Track for Multimedia Journalism.
- While still a student, Shingi played a key role in creating the News Academy, a diversity project by News UK. In 2017, he became The Sunday Times’s first-ever apprentice, starting his training at NCTJ-accredited News Partners in Wimbledon. Shingi was hired through News UK’s free summer program for aspiring journalists and worked alongside five apprentices from The Sun.
Work, Career, Salary and Net Worth :
- The Young Journalists’ Academy helped Shingi take his first steps into the field of journalism. Before that, he had never interacted with a reporter or had anyone read his writing except his mother.
- He joined The Sunday Times as the publication’s first-ever paid apprentice, working for three years and nine months from August 2017 to April 2021. Shingi started as a news reporter and worked his way up, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the award-winning school paper “The Boar” during his time at the University of Warwick.
- Shingi thinks his persistence and consistency help him land the positions he desires. Being courteous and usually interested in other people’s occupations was the second factor that assisted Shingi in landing a job. He absorbed himself in The Sunday Times‘ way of life.
- He was notable for being among the few authors contributing to ten distinct Sunday Times sections in only two years. He published pieces for them while employed there once a week as part of his training course. He also made appearances on Times Radio.
- In April 2021, he made a career move to Sky News, where he currently serves as a news correspondent based in London, England, UK.
Awards and Recognition :
- Mararike has been recognised for his outstanding efforts and determination. He received the Outstanding Effort and Determination award from Brampton Manor Academy in December 2014.
- Additionally, he was honoured as a runner-up in the London Schools and The Black Child Awards for his exceptional academic achievement in A-Level grades in October 2014.
Interesting Facts, Height and Trivia :
- From January 2013 to January 2018, Shingi achieved the distinction of becoming the youngest certified coach at the Redbridge Sports Center in London. At the age of 17, he utilised his skills and expertise as a county-level player to assist numerous clients in enhancing their sports performance. Shingi conducted a variety of coaching sessions, catering to diverse age groups and skill levels.
- Shingi has worked in sports coaching for the Landon School Sports Trust as part of his volunteer efforts since July 2014. He has helped deliver sports days across East London schools for children.
- From February 2014 to April 2021, Shingi served as an ambassador for The News Academy, actively promoting its mission. The academy aimed to inspire and empower aspiring journalists of the next generation. Shingi played a significant role in this endeavor, delivering a keynote address at the launch event and assisting in organising events throughout the UK. He was selected from a nationwide pool of applicants to participate in the inaugural News UK News Academy Summer Program.
- He holds bilingual proficiency in English and French.
- According to an Evening Standard article by Joe Talora, Shingi received an apology from Transport for London after he claimed to have been racially profiled by a ticket inspection agent. Shingi tweeted that he was stopped on a DLR train and accused of avoiding payment based on his alleged resemblance to someone who had evaded fares at a particular station. However, Shingi stated that he hadn’t been at the station the previous day and had only passed through it once that year. The ticket inspector boarded the train again, checked his ticket in front of a large crowd, and admitted to catching Shingi avoiding fares on video in the past. Besides racial profiling, the inspector assumed Shingi was guilty.
- In the summer of 2020, he documented the Black Lives Matter movement and published substantial reports on the county-line drug gangs’ involvement in child exploitation.
- In a 2018 interview with Journo Resources, Shingi revealed his daily routine as a journalist. He starts his day at 7 am, listening to Radio 4’s Today Program and reading a range of newspapers. On Tuesdays, he compiles a list of story ideas and eagerly awaits his boss’s approval. If the ideas are approved, he begins working on them after entering the office at around 11 am. He spends Tuesdays and Wednesdays meeting with individuals to exchange stories.
- In his interview with Journo resources, Shingi admitted that he would acquire more data-based abilities if he could start over. You must be competent to crunch the numbers and draw conclusions from data if you want to work in journalism. The other abilities Shingi has acquired, such as performing a death knock or reporting accurately, would not be substituted, either.
- As an undergraduate, Shingi wrote a piece that he remains incredibly proud of, focusing on acid assaults. The investigation was sparked by his brother’s statement about people bringing acid into school. During his internship at The Sunday Times, Shingi impulsively suggested the idea, initially met with apprehension but eventually garnering significant interest. The story gained momentum, leading to the launch of the “Acid Attack Britain” campaign.
- In a piece (Dec 18, 2015) titled “What to do if you’re struggling at university” for The Independent’s student issues section, Shingi noted that students often face overwhelming pressures to maintain a social life, achieve good grades, and plan for future employment. This can lead to damaging consequences as students struggle to balance these demands.
- During a debate on societal diversity on Nov 19, 2020, Shingi shared his journey of being mentored in a high-pressure newsroom. Despite the daunting initial experience, he found the mentoring process valuable, providing him the skills to tackle both work issues. Mararike pointed out that while newsrooms still don’t fully reflect the diverse communities they serve, mentoring models like the one he experienced can be a powerful tool in building inclusivity. Acknowledging the persistent pressure faced by working-class black men in the industry, he stressed the need for more representation. Mararike envisions a truly diverse newsroom as one with a wide variety of people from different backgrounds, who are there based on their skills and not just to tick diversity boxes. To him, such a newsroom would seamlessly integrate into British culture.
- On a typical day, Shingi begins his day by reading morning papers to stay informed. He maintains frequent contact with the news desk and builds good relationships with colleagues across various desks. Understanding the unpredictable nature of news, Shingi stays updated by constantly watching television.
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