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December 2012 News

Review of 2012: Those we have lost

Journalists who passed away during the last 12 months

Long-standing press photographer retires after 44 years

Career started after leaving school in 1968

Print journalism course boasts 100pc employment

Every student on the course offered a job despite “tough climate”

Editor defies injury to complete charity half-marathon

Amateur boxers raised £1,400 for special needs unit

Review of 2012: Exodus continues as ten daily editors move on

Our annual round-up of the major job moves in the industry

Regional political editor leaves to become boxer

Daily paper’s top political reporter will fly to Thailand to pursue new career

TV star drops in to weekly’s first community awards

Great British Bake Off star Paul Hollywood responded to invite over Twitter

Paper’s appeal sees food handed out for Christmas

Mountain of food built up at newspaper offices

Photographer brings premature twins home for Christmas

Baby boys spent months having treatment in hospital

Review of 2012: Highfield calls the shots in year of upheaval

We take a look back back at the last 12 months in regional journalism

Dyson at Large: My regional heroes of 2012

Our blogger looks back at the men and women who made the news in 2012

Former literary editor to judge Man Booker Prize

A former literary editor at Scotland on Sunday has been picked as a judge for next year’s Man Booker Prize for Fiction. Stuart Kelly, who is a regular book reviewer for sister title The Scotsman, is one of the five

Papers launch new apps in time for ‘tablet Christmas’

Publisher expands its portfolio of iPad and Android titles

Editor’s near-miss on Christmas street patrol

Violent brawl shattered peaceful evening for editor’s feature on volunteers

Reporter barred as child’s Xmas party ban debated

Reporter argued story was already in public domain

Reporter turns Santa for weekly’s Christmas campaign

More than 100 gifts handed out to struggling families

Tips on choosing a journalism course

Emma Clark, former marketing and communications manager for the National Council for the Training of Journalists, offers her advice on choosing between journalism courses.
Recently I've attended numerous careers fairs around the country, meeting students of all ages keen to break into journalism - whether that be in newspapers, television, radio or magazines. And of course, all students want to know which journalism course they should go on and whether they need NCTJ qualifications.

A quick look at the trainee job ads on HTFP demonstrates the importance of gaining the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism. Many adverts require candidates to have, or be awaiting results for, their NCTJ Diploma.

Trying to break into the industry without it makes a tough task almost impossible. With the rise in tuition fees, choosing the right journalism course is even more important than ever and students need to be sure they are learning the vocational skills required by employers, enabling them to hit the ground running when they enter the newsroom.

Employers know that an NCTJ-trained applicant will be able to find and construct stories, understand media law and ethics and be able to take down an accurate shorthand note when required. And contrary to popular belief it is not just the regional press looking for these skills, but nationals, online and broadcast too. Recent Sky Sports News schemes, for example, have been looking for practical skills including a minimum of 100wpm shorthand.

Student journalists can complete their NCTJ training in a number of ways - FE colleges and independent centres offer the Diploma in Journalism as fast-track and academic year courses, while universities offer it as part of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. All of these journalism courses lead to the same NCTJ qualifications and meet the same standard, allowing students to pick the one that's best for them.

It's no secret that the NCTJ has an exacting standard, and this applies not just to the qualifications but also to the course provider. All NCTJ-accredited courses have to work incredibly hard to meet the requirements in the same way that students have to work incredibly hard to achieve the gold standard. This ensures the NCTJ logo acts as a meaningful kitemark for quality journalism training.