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July 2008 News

Desk-fast not breakfast

Are “desk-fasts” taking over from breakfasts? No longer are we settling down to the traditional full English breakfast, but the typical breakfast choice to eat at your desk when you arrive at work is a Danish and coffee. (Unless you’re

Royal Mail junks council freesheet

Readers brand £400,000-a-year paper a waste of money

Germany calls for British journalists

Bursary scheme offers European media opportunity, Johnston Press appoints new board member – and more news in brief

Newspapers' campaign is mad about The Hatters

Luton News and Dunstable Gazette to go straight to FA over Luton Town FC punishment

Helmand hospital beckons for health reporter Liz

South Wales journalist to spend time with military medics in Afghanistan

Jokey journo dabbles in stand-up comedy

Chief reporter takes to the comedy club stage – and generates future gigs in the process

Associated-Northcliffe's digital chief leaves company

Andy Hart departs ahead of forthcoming organisational changes

Pay deal secured at Newsquest newspapers

Ten-month wages dispute in York comes to an end as union agrees deal with bosses

New home in the country for Archant glossies

Lifestyle titles to get new editors

Photographer plummets to Earth in charity leap

Journal snapper lives to tell the tale of 10,000ft jump and raise over £400

Weekly reunites bride-to-be with long-lost sister

Hannah and her sister reunited thanks to chief reporter’s efforts

New-look for Newsquest websites

Publisher starts roll-out of revamped look for newspapers’ digital arm

Journalist's bail hearing protest after entry ban

Letter to judge successfully secures reporter court coverage

Farmers' markets

A farmers’ market is one in which farmers, growers or producers from a defined local area are present in person to sell their own produce, direct to the public. All products sold should have been grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled,

Paying the dentist

How much do you pay at the dentist? With more and more people going “private” away from the NHS, pricing schemes can differ vastly from practice to practice. Try out a survey in your area and see what your local

Paper aims to drive home Post Office closure message

Birmingham Mail plans to deliver reader petition to PM on campaign bus

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.