Page 4 of 4

Perhaps the most disappointing answers were those to question five.Candidates were told that their local Salvation Army citadel was celebratingits centenary in two months' time. They had been instructed to come up withoutline proposals for three major features to mark the contribution made tothe area by the Army since it first established a presence there more than100 years ago.

Several candidates obviously had no idea that the citadel was a buildingas evidenced by lines of inquiry that included:

"Do they experience difficulties, as most charities do, finding cheapaccommodation in which to base themselves?"

"Where does the citadel see itself in another 100 years?"

One candidate, who during the exam just might have looked up thedictionary definition of citadel as an armed fortress, suggested asking theArmy "what part the building played during the two world wars? Did it comeunder attack?"

Another disappointing answer began: "Citadel's centenary celebrations -ask when it was set up."

Very few had any knowledge of the Salvation Army. It was generally seenas a fund raising charity running soup kitchens in the winter, playing musicfor carol services at Christmas time, and collecting money for good causesoutside supermarkets the rest of the year. Only a few appeared to realisethat it was a Christian organisation or appreciate its work for thehomeless. No one mentioned its remarkable reputation for tracing missingpersons and one candidate referred to it throughout his answer as "a club".

Candidates have 20 minutes to tackle each of three questions in thissection of the examination. Some of the suggested lines of inquiry andquestions they think to ask during this period of time must make one wonderwhat sort of questions they pose when, under pressure from their news desk,they grab a telephone to conduct a quick interview for the next edition?

Editors, news editors and training officers might consider occasionallymonitoring trainees - fifty-nine per cent of whom appear to need this help.

For a full list of successful candidates, click here.

Click for more from the examiners' reports: