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March 2008 News

Tips from the top

Anita Syvret, of the Gloucestershire Echo, reveals how to get that all-important job

"There's no such thing as luck!"

Shorthand Part III: Preparing for the exam

"It is imperative that you attempt writing in shorthand"

Shorthand Part II: Speed development

"Feet flat on the floor… now, smile and breathe!"

Shorthand Part I: Tips and tricks from an expert

Newspaper banned from football fans' forum

Echo sports hack asked to leave meeting which his paper had been promoting

Securing journalism work experience: How to do it

Our guide on how to get a journalism work placement

Newspaper publisher launches more 'hyperlocal' websites

Trinity Mirror’s Coventry Telegraph is next paper to tap into community content

Editor in demand after life-saving liver transplant

Herald chief keen to spread donor message after gaining a new lease of life

Call for entries in awards scheme celebrating mental health journalism

There’s still time to submit cuttings for this year’s Mind Awards

Award-winning editor traces family history for latest book

Author’s great-grandfather was youngest superintendent in Manchester Police

Veteran's memoirs of journalism training hit a new online high

Memoirs of a pioneer journalism lecturer clock up their 8,000th hit

Footy success brings 40 per cent lift to unique user count at The News

Website boost as Portsmouth do the business

Journalist camps out at shop test its homeliness

Express and Star hack pitches up at Asda and meets some interesting characters along the way

'Mouth cancer cases caused by oral sex reach highest ever level' says dental charity

The UK’s leading dental charity is appealing to the Government to include boys in a planned vaccination program to guard against the sexually transmitted HPV virus – after mouth cancer deaths related to the virus reached their highest ever level.

Lost pets

Losing a pet is distressing and knowing where to look, who to contact and how to find your pet can be daunting. The Kennel Club – has a free guide What To Do If You Lose Your Pet which gives

Popular charities

What makes a charity popular? Is it personal involvement where a cause touches someone’s life? Could it be slick advertising or just something that people identify with? Some people give to just one charity while others hand over £1 whenever

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.