A former regional press journalist has taken up a leading role with the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

Janet Jones, left, who is a senior journalism lecturer at Glyndwr University in Wrexham, has become the new chair and chief examiner of the NCTJ public affairs examinations board.

In her new role she will guide future public affairs teaching and exams, including further developing the NCTJ programme for the subject under the new Diploma in Journalism.

Janet replaces Amanda Ball who chaired the board for 16 years but will continue as the NCTJ’s principal examiner and a member of the NCTJ media law and photography exam boards.

Janet started out in journalism by completing NCTJ training with the Midland News Association before holding various roles on the Telford Journal and Shropshire Star, including reporter, news editor and sub-editor.

She then worked at the MNA training centre in Wolverhampton as a training officer, before joining Glyndwr University in 2007, where she was instrumental in gaining NCTJ accreditation for the Certificate of Higher Education in Print Journalism course last year.

Janet said: “I am absolutely delighted to be taking on the role of chair and chief examiner of the NCTJ public affairs board.

“The huge changes in public bodies currently being announced on an almost daily basis illustrate just how important it is for journalists to understand not only how local and central government work but how they generate stories at all levels for readers, listeners and viewers.

“I am particularly honoured to be given the job of continuing the remarkable work already done by Amanda Ball and the board members in developing a new NCTJ programme for public affairs.

“This is part of the new Diploma in Journalism in which public affairs has been further integrated into a complete package of multimedia training for journalists.”

Janet’s passion for public affairs journalism was inspired by her father, John Simcock, now retired, who for many years was municipal correspondent for the Shropshire Star, while her two brothers are also journalists.