A unique training course for web journalists, introduced by the Kent Messenger Group 15 months ago, has produced its first graduate.

Andy Winter joined the KMG digital media department in March last year after achieving an MA in web journalism at Sheffield University.

Andy, (24), signed up for a two-year traineeship that required him to gain NCTJ preliminary exam passes in law and politics, as well as 100wpm shorthand – and he went on to gain distinctions in both law and shorthand.

The final module of his training was the completion of a logbook of competencies to demonstrate that he was able to put into practice all the skills required of a web journalist.

The programme was devised and administered by editorial training manager Neil Webber and is the latest in a series of specialist diploma courses the KM Group runs for trainees in newspaper reporting, sub-editing and broadcast journalism.

Neil said: "By designing and managing our own courses, we are able to concentrate on the areas that we feel are most relevant and that we wish to develop, at the same time providing qualifications that will stand up to scrutiny throughout the industry.

"We are also able to make immediate changes to the training in response to developments within the industry and we can demand and achieve higher standards."

Andy receives his KM Diploma in Web Journalism from KMG chairman-designate Geraldine Allinson, with editorial training manager Neil Webber