More than 290 reporters are today due to sit the National Certificate Examination – the highest number for many years.

A total of 293 candidates will be put to the test for the National Council for the Training of Journalists’s professional qualification, which has seen many elements revised and updated during the past two years.

The Newspaper Practice section is now an open book exam and has a greater emphasis on the application of media law, and the old Speech section has been modernised and is in the new News Report format.

The second edition of the Logbook was published in January in a more user friendly format and with changes to some of the key reporting tasks.

A number of new examiners have also been appointed.

Joanne Butcher, chief executive of the NCTJ, said: “We are pleased that so many publishers and editors continue to trust the NCE as the best method of testing and recognising the skills of reporters and have welcomed the changes we have made.

“Despite talk of a recruitment freeze for some time, last year there was a small increase in the number of registrations and more companies joined our membership scheme.

“The NCE depends on the support of so many volunteer journalists who not only give up their valuable time to help on the day but also assist with training and mentoring young trainees – we really appreciate and value their commitment.”

Candidates sitting the NCE today will receive their results on November 30.

To pass the NCE and qualify as senior reporters, journalists have to be successful in four different sections: News Interview; News Report; Newspaper Practice; and Logbook. They must achieve an average of 60 per cent across all four sections.