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June 2007 News

Spring 2005 NCE: Newspaper Practice

NEWSPAPER PRACTICE – 259 candidates; – 177 passed – 68 per cent In the main candidates showed a sound grasp of the legal implications in the law questions and flair in organising coverage of a TA Reservist demoted in his

New bursary on offer for budding online journalists

Bursary in memory of reporter who died of a brain tumour offers six-month placement at BBC website

New part-time course to kick-start management careers

Ambitious journalists can begin to climb the ladder through e-learning

Why good writers have a mountain to climb

Good writing comes in all shapes and sizes, but there are a few bases that should always be covered. Here, Mike Sassi, editor of the Lincolnshire Echo, takes a back-to-basics look at what make a good writer… Would you be

Four journalists singled out for praise after passing NCE

Examiners pick out the best of the bunch

New course set to train journalists for the Olympics

A university in Bedford is helping journalists prepare for big event in Beijing

News groups team up in bid to combat sub-editor shortage

Training diploma is launched to bring new talent into the industry

New staff appointed to lead NCTJ exam changes

John Dilley and Lyn Jones will help “fine tune” the assessment process

'Battered Blair' headline for journalism students' 20-page special

Trainees work through election night to grab “real-world” reporting experience

Newspaper Journalism – A Practical Introduction

New book offers a ‘start from scratch’ guide to the industry

Living his dream

Journalism wannabe wins six-month paid placement writing for Arsenal Football Club

Former University of Sheffield student scoops coveted local government prize

NCTJ hands out award after trainee passes exam with flying colours

Trainees phone revision hotline – between exam papers!

NCE candidates take full advantage of last minute advice service

'Failed' trainees get NCE as paper is re-marked

There were celebrations, relief and astonishment for a group of trainee reporters this week after they were told they had passed the NCE – two months after being told they had failed the journalism exam. Fifteen regional press reporters have

Journalism students sign Lawro as columnist

Two student journalists have scored a winning goal by signing soccer pundit Mark Lawrenson as a star columnist for their newspaper. ‘Lawro’ agreed to write for the sports section of The Preston Independent after being approached by Mark Welford and

Budding journalist to work in Cuba thanks to bursary win

Cardiff student excited by chance to work as a reporter overseas during month-long trip

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.