The pass rate for journalists sitting the National Certificate Examination has risen above 50pc for the first time since summer 2008.
More than half the 209 trainee journalists who sat the exam on 6 November at 14 centres across the country achieved success in all four papers.
The certificate was awarded to 106 candidates who passed in each of the four areas of news interview, news report, newspaper practice and logbook.
The chief examiner said: “The overall pass rate of 51pc was to be applauded after three successive NCEs in which the pass rate was below half.”
The pass rate for both the previous set of exams in July and the equivalent set of exams last November was 48pc.
The last time the pass rate for a set of exams was above 50pc was in July 2008 when 66pc of the candidates passed.
Despite the downturn in the industry and the contraction in the number of regional press jobs, more trainees are entering the exam than ever.
Last month’s November exam brought the total number of entries for the year to 640 – an increase of 35 per cent over the 474 entries in 2008.
The full list of trainees who passed the November NCE is below.
Kirsty Barton, Salisbury Journal
James Beal, Bridgwater Mercury
Daniel Binns, Epping Forest Guardian
Jonathan Birkin, Derby Telegraph
Samuel Blackledge, Surrey Advertiser
Laura Bowyer, Leeds Weekly News
Kevin Bradford, Hendon Times
Winston Brown, Market Drayton Advertiser
Lucy Helen, Buckland Courier Newspapers
Richard Burin, Harrogate Advertiser
Craig Burnett, Wimbledon Guardian
Sarah Calkin, Echo, Basildon
Lauren Campbell, Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald
Daniel Carden, Matlock Mercury
Samantha Chetwynd, Press and Journal, Aberdeen
Alexander Christie-Miller, Crawley Observer
Becky Churcher, West Sussex County Times
Laura Churchill, North Devon Journal
Julian Cooper, Kentish Times
Kerry Coupe, Rutland and Stamford Mercury
Charles Crabtree, Kidderminster Shuttle
James Cracknell, Freelance
Felicity Crump, Bath Chronicle
Sarah Dale, Worthing Herald
Catherine Dalton, Express and Star, Wolverhampton
Lucy Dickinson, Romford Recorder
Ian Duncan, Scarborough Evening News
Tara Dundon, Evening Telegraph, Peterborough
David Elliott, Scunthorpe Telegraph
Samantha Emanuel, Norwich Evening News
Sara Fenton, Leamington Spa Courier
Hannah Finch, Herald Express
Sarah Firth, Nottingham Evening Post
Oliver Florence, Surrey Advertiser
Jennifer Foster, Worksop Guardian
Gemma Gardner, Royston and Buntingford Mercury
Carla George, Barnsley Chronicle
Robert Gibson, Hexham Courant
Neil Graham, Grantham Journal
Jennifer Grant, Essex Chronicle
Emma Greenhalgh, Hartlepool Mail
Eleanor Harding, Wandsworth Guardian
Bryan Henesey, Nottingham Evening Post
Nicholas Hitchens, Freelance
Lauren Hockney, Maldon and Burnham Standard
James Hoy, Mansfield Chad
Andrew Hughes, Shields Gazette
David Hurley, The News, Portsmouth
Timothy Joesbury-Clarke, Worcester Standard
Timothy John, Daily Echo, Bournemouth
Emma Jones, South Wales Evening Post
Emma Kasprzak, Shropshire Star
James Kershaw, Echo, Basildon
Tristan Kirk, Harrow Times
Ruby Kitchen, Harrogate Advertiser
Emily Koch, Evening Post, Bristol
Frances Leate, Gazette, Colchester
Victoria Leggett, Eastern Daily Press
Craig Lewis, Luton and Dunstable Express
Owen Lock, South Wales Guardian
David Lumb, Banbury Guardian
Tyrone Marshall, Lancashire Telegraph
Ian Mason, Richmond and Twickenham Times
Colleen McDonnell, Freelance
Richard Mennear, Hartlepool Mail
Thom Morris, Kentish Express
James Nadal, Bucks Free Press
Katherine Nelson, Kentish Times
Laura Nesbitt, Bridgwater Mercury
Miranda Newey, Warrington Guardian
Patrick O’Kane, Westmorland Gazette
Tanya O’Rourke, Telegraph and Argus
Benjamin Perrin, Swindon Advertiser
Daniel Phillips, Harlow Star
Michael Purton, News Shopper
Nicholas Reinis, Evening Telegraph, Peterborough
Julia Rodgerson, Matlock Mercury
Alexander Ross, Weston and Somerset Mercury
Jacob Rusby, Hemel Hempstead Gazette
Marina Soteriou, Kentish Times
Richard Spillett, Thanet Gazette
Emma Streatfield, Swindon Advertiser
Laura Stuart-Cook, Express and Star, Wolverhampton
Matthew Taylor, Westmorland Gazette
Paul Teed, Hounslow and Brentford Times
Rhys Thomas, Hucknall and Bulwell Dispatch
Marina Thomas, The Docklands
Holly Thompson, Surrey Mirror
Benjamin Truslove, Melton Times
Suzan Uzel, Cambridge News
Matthew Viney, Wolverhampton Chronicle
Joe Walker, Kentish Gazette
Kirk Ward, West Sussex County Times
Verity Ward, Shields Gazette
Jonathan Ware, Wiltshire Gazette and Herald
Matthew Watts, Streatham Guardian
David Wiles, Stroud News and Journal
Christopher Wilkinson, Wigan Evening Post
Max Wilkinson, Weston and Somerset Mercury
Claire Wilson, Somerset Standard
James Wilson, Northwich Guardian
Christopher Wood, South Wales Argus
Richard Woodall, Banbury Guardian
Kathryn Woodhouse, Western Telegraph
Helen Woods, Northumberland Gazette
Christopher Young, Congleton Chronicle
Comments
Roger Jones (18/12/2009 10:07:46)
It is good that more and more trainees are being positive in these dismal times by taking – and passing – the exam. Congratulations to those who have passed; lots of encouragement to candidates who need to retake.
Maybe the next positive thing to do (if of course you are not a member already) is to join the NUJ. The subscription payment will, I’m sure, more than pay for itself over the years. Strength in numbers, and plenty of professional help in times of need and difficulty, is what counts.
cleland thom (18/12/2009 10:42:14)
Well done these guys.
But wouldn’t it be great if people who passed the NCE could have letters after their name – just like people in other professions? Maybe NCTJ (Cert)?
It would be a good incentive, and hopefully raise journalists’ credibility.
Any supporters out there?
Neil Speight (18/12/2009 11:16:01)
That is a great idea and it would be nice if the industry and NCTJ took up the cause to recognise the benefit of this qualification and the effort put in by the trainees.
Colin Young (21/12/2009 15:34:39)
I’m definitely in favour of giving the NCE greater recognition with designatory letters. Other professions – including the CIPR – add value to their qualification by doing this, so why not journalism? If you’ve got it, flaunt it, I say…