Candidates for a nationally recognised journalism qualification are to be asked to write a news story for same-day publication on the Internet, as part of their National Certificate Examination.

The news interview section of the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ exams has so far always asked candidates to produce a story for publication in 'tomorrow’s newspaper'.

But the September 28 test will ask candidates to write a story for the web, to be published on the same day, based on written facts given to them and information acquired through a mock interview.

The examiners said that the change was made because more and more reporters were expected to write stories in the “here and now”, and the NCTJ wanted to reflect current newsroom practice and test candidates’ ability to inform ‘as it happens’.

Chief examiner Steve Nelson said: "Candidates are already submitting stories from websites for the logbook [section of the exams].

"This evolvement of the news interview section recognises the changing newsroom practices and presents candidates with the opportunity to write in a slightly different style to that normally required in the NCE. I am confident that candidates will easily adapt to this new requirement."

As the rest of the format for news interview stays the same. Candidates are always required to write a story 'in a style they would use for their own newspaper' so nobody will be disadvantaged.

NCE refresher course trainers will be provided with a sample practice exam.