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76 per cent pass rate as journalists re-sit newspaper practice paper

Nine more journalists have been awarded their full National Certificate Examination for newspaper reporters after successfully re-sitting the newspaper practice section.

A total of 46 trainee journalists took the additional summer re-sit – the first one organised by the National Council for the Training of Journalists for a section of the NCE – and 35 candidates passed.

The success rate of 76 per cent was the highest for any newspaper practice exam in recent years, and meant that nine of the candidates gained the full NCE as they had already passed all the other sections at earlier sittings.

They are:

  • Helen Beighton, Derbyshire Times
  • Martin Booth, Watford Observer
  • Christopher Breese, Melton Times
  • Jane Bruccoleri, Croydon Guardian
  • Keith Fairbank, Monmouth Free Press
  • Kristina Fox, Hebden Bridge Times
  • David Jones, Petersfield Post
  • Benjamin Lee, Cambridge Evening News
  • Catherine Salmond, Fife Free Press

    Steve Nelson, chief examiner for newspaper journalism, said: “The decision to allow candidates to re-sit the newspaper practice exam within three months, rather than having to wait for a full six months, has certainly paid dividends.

    “The success rate in this re-sit is higher than for any newspaper practice exam in recent years.

    “This suggests that some candidates might not have been quite ready to sit the exam at the first attempt and that they benefited from re-sitting the exam shortly afterwards following further training.

    “The examiners and markers have done an excellent job in providing candidates with this opportunity in such a short timescale.”

    The next full NCE sitting for reporters will be on September 28. The NCE for press photographers and photojournalists will take place in Sheffield on November 7.