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June 2009 News

Will 650 local newspapers really close by 2014?

Media analyst Claire Enders made a bit of splash at today’s culture, media and sport committee hearing in the Commons by predicting that half the UK’s 1,300 local papers would close over the next five years. Ms Enders claimed that

Ramsay's TV slur brings back unhappy memories

Ex-Mercury staffer recalls a brush with celebrity

Up to 650 local papers could close, analyst tells MPs

Title being kept alive by “good graces of owners”

Trinity Mirror staffers given a footballing lesson

Charity is the winner as select 11 takes a beating

Star backs campaign to force out ex-Cabinet minister

Community magazine champions local Blears bid

Editor retires after four decades in journalism

Peter Butterfield bids farewell to business mag

How should journalists deal with rise of BNP?

Union launches debate over response to far-right party

Sunday Times work ex on offer to students

Plus: a round-up of other forthcoming media award schemes

Consumer expert signs up with regional daily

Plus: new FoI training dates, science journalism conference comes to London – and more news in brief

Echo stays wise to football club buyout hoax

Sports desk hangs back as it smells a story rat

Publisher goes Forth with second new title launch

More expansion with another title due in the autumn

As powerless as Canute against publicity tide

Council protests fail to stop Alfie story being told

Queen snubs regional press

The twice-yearly honours lists published on the Queen’s birthday and New Year’s Eve can usually be relied upon to yield a good story for HTFP, with regional press figures regularly featuring among the recipients. In the New Year’s Honours List

Airline giant fails to ground local magazine

Lifestyle publication still flying high despite name change

Weekly leads way in uncovering cost of MP raid

Political editor uses FoI to reveal £109,000 bill

Printing press closure plan places 53 jobs at risk

Newsquest could move printing along the south coast

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.