Success by trainee journalists from Darlington College in a recent round of industry exams has brought four of the top five awards to the north-east.

The students scored well in the October 2001 results of the National Council for Training Journalists National certificate Examination.

The Society of Editors’ Award for the best news interview went to Benedict Pennington from the Thurrock Gazette who recently completed a refresher course at Darlington.

The Esso Award for Best Speech was awarded to Matthew Danks of the Dudley News who also recently completed a refresher course.

The Eric Dobson Memorial Award for the best candidate in the North East was won by Guy Anderson, Sunderland Echo, who gained a degree in journalism from Darlington College.

The final award achieved with Darlington’s training input was the Pamela Meyrick Memorial Award for the most promising trainee from the North of England and North Wales. It was awarded to Samantha Strangeways who has now joined the Northern Echo from the Ilkley Gazette.

Samantha followed the Newsquest block release course at Darlington in 2000, did a variety of workshops and completed the refresher course at the college in September.

The College’s long-term first-time pass rate is now at an impressive 75 per cent.

Head of external relations and former head of the School for Journalism, Media, Art and Design Sue Campbell, said: “This is a tremendous achievement for the college which consistently delivers some of the country’s most talented journalists.

“We continue to have strong links with the UK’s leading newspaper groups who place many of their trainees with us.”

The college offers an extensive range of courses, going up to HND and degree-level. For those already working there are refresher courses and specialised modules.

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