Four sub-editors have successfully completed the second Northcliffe Production Diploma.

The certificate, run in conjunction with Press Association Training, was established two years ago to help editors tackle the shortage of qualified production journalists in the industry.

Trainee subs spend four weeks at PA Training’s offices in either Newcastle and Howden and the rest of their time learning on the job at their own newspaper.

They sit a final exam where they are tested on copy subbing, headline writing, page design, media law and the Press Complaints Commission.

The final exam also includes an interview with a panel of Northcliffe editors.

This year’s successful candidates were Maurice Stevens of Cornwall and Devon Media, Mark Westwood from the Hull Daily Mail, Lesley Marriott of the Lincolnshire Echo and Mark Clough from the North Devon Journal.

Hull Daily Mail senior assistant editor Paul Hartley, who also manages the course for Northcliffe Media, said: “The course has proved extremely useful in helping centres recruit and develop people with limited or no previous experience of subbing and equipping them with the skills and knowledge to take on more demanding production roles earlier than they might have done otherwise.

“It’s also ideal for reporters who are making the move into production.

“The pass mark for the law exam is 60pc. The final exam is challenging but we felt we needed to set the bar high to give the qualification credibility.”

Candidates also have to complete a portfolio of their work for the editors’ interview panel and distance-learning modules. Trainees are supported by a mentor who has to complete three formal appraisals of the candidates’ work.

Other newspapers which have supported the course in the past include the Leicester Mercury, South Wales Evening Post and the Plymouth-based Western Morning News.

The plan is to run the course again this year from October.