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January 2010 News

Weekly's SuBo interview in YouTube favourites

Courier’s chat with BGT star garnered worldwide attention

Friday Funnies: No news is good news

Plus: Police secure hash cash and more media funnies

Papers host live webchats on the weather

More than 2,500 comments and questions posted on sites

English weather holds up Scottish titles

Vehicle convoy halted by police near border

Bailey among speakers at Oxford Media Convention

Plus: Crain’s publisher leaves title and more news in brief

Printing plant faces closure threatening 90 jobs

Consultation to be held due to ‘continued unused capacity’

Big changes announced for West London weeklies

Freesheet to close as paid-fors go part-free

Editor forced to abandon car in snow

Guardian team overcomes freeze to get paper out on time

Catch-a-criminal campaign puts ten behind bars

Record arrests after Echo’s annual festive manhunt

Daily's ten-year care appeal tops £1m mark

Long-running millennium campaign reaches milestone

Don’t miss Steve Dyson’s new blog

Former Birmingham Mail editor Steve Dyson’s new blog "Dyson at Large" launches on HoldtheFrontPage today. Each Wednesday, Steve will be looking at a different regional title and giving his assessment of its strengths and weaknesses and today he kicks off

Equine journalism awards open for entries

Annual Martin Wills scheme on the hunt for writing talent

Baby name ban lifted after PA court challenge

Ban instigated due to mum’s appearance in neglect case

Dead man walks it

Over the past fortnight we’ve been carrying out a poll to find your favourite HTFP press funny of 2009. Our original shortlist of ten featured our choice of the best mis-spellings, subbing errors, bizarre news judgements and missing headlines of

Journalism students receive bursary boost

Latest Diversity Fund beneficiaries announced

Deadline looms for new sports journalism exam

Time running out to sign-up for first NCE for sports reporters

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.