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June 2007 News

Students descend on media outlets to gain industry experience

Easter break offers students chance to put new skills into practice

Free advice for NCE candidates

Support service offers trainees last minute chance to swot up

Autumn 2004 NCE:Special awards

Four successful journalists who all passed the autumn 2004 NCE have been singled out for special excellence awards for their work. Lena Davis, a journalist on the Slough Observer won the Society of Editors’ award for the best news interview.

Chronicle editor to chair newspaper journalism board

David Gledhill has been appointed as the new chair of the NCTJ’s newspaper journalism board. Editor of the Bath Chronicle for the past ten years, he succeeds Mike Woods who retired recently from the NCTJ and chaired the board for

Former editor crafting journalism degree course

Former Rutland & Stamford Mercury editor Tor Clark is setting up a new journalism degree at De Montfort University in Leicester. As senior lecturer in journalism he will be working on the new three-year joint honours degree, ready for the

Fire gives journalism trainees a taste of real reporting

Journalism students were given the chance to report on a real breaking news story when a burning tree fell on top of a passenger train outside their college. Students on the NCTJ pre-entry course at Sutton Coldfield College were just

More successful NCE candidates – Autumn 2004

The following candidates have now gained the National Certificate following a review of the Newspaper Practice paper for Autumn 2004: Robert Bleaney, Highbury and Islington Express Jessica Boulton, Hull Daily Mail Jaclyn Curry, Northumberland Gazette Vikki Fear, Lincolnshire Free Press

47 per cent pass their journalism exams

More than 120 reporters were successful in October’s National Certificate Examination. That means there was a pass rate of 47 per cent. Some 259 journalists sat the NCE at 14 centres across the UK, with 123 proving successful. To pass

Autumn 2004 NCE:News Interview

NEWS INTERVIEW– 213 candidates; 134 passed– (63 per cent) The autumn 2004 interview was about an attack on a Trading Standards officer during a raid to seize counterfeit brandy at an Oxdown car boot sale. Trading Standards also warned the

Autumn 2004 NCE:Newspaper Practice

NEWSPAPER PRACTICE– 240 candidates; 128 passed– (53 per cent) A major change in this section of the examination was the increased emphasis on the law section. For the first time, the Part A question that candidates chose to tackle carried

Autumn 2004 NCE:Photo awards

The Fuji prize for Photographer of the Year has been awarded to Lucy Ray (May NCE) of the Matlock Mercury/Derbyshire Times. Lucy Angus Thomson, national product manager of Fuji, said: “Once again this year we had two exceptional portfolios going

Eight photographers get their 'prof test'

Eight press photographers and photojournalists have been successful in the November 2004 National Certificate Examination. The successful press photographers were: Claire Tregaskis, Western Morning News Katy Beswetherick, Lancashire Evening Telegraph Anthony Channer, Essex Chronicle Anthony Chappel-Ross, Harrogate Advertiser Sarah Hickey,

Spring 2004 NCE:Speech

SPEECH– 213 candidates; 143 passed– (67 per cent) The widespread publicity given to the problem of binge drinking by young people, its effect on town centres and the cost to society in general cannot have escaped the attention of candidates

'Change and modernisation' to take NCTJ forward – chairman

Change and modernisation would be the key to developing the National Council for the Training of Journalists, according to its chairman, Kim Fletcher. Kim, who is editorial director of the Telegraph Group, said a mix of new talent and continuity

Peter Cole appointed NCTJ vice-chairman

Peter Cole has been appointed vice-chairman of the National Council for the Training of Journalists. He joined the board in 1998 and has been Professor of Journalism at the University of Sheffield since August 2000. He began his career as

"They wrote what …?"

There was the usual share of errors, bloopers and howlers in the Autumn National Certificate papers. For instance, when it came to suggesting ideas for their newspapers to do “something special” to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of

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.