A newspaper journalism course accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists has been axed after being hit by government funding cuts.

The pre-entry newspaper journalism course running at Warwickshire College for 11 years has closed, with three lecturers made redundant.

Course leader Peter McGarry, who has been involved with the course since its inception, said the college had put up fees for the course from £1,750 to £3,700 after government cuts to education funding – which has deterred many potential students.

The news comes as it emerges Norton College’s photojournalism course has been saved from closure after facing similar funding problems.

Peter said Warwickshire College insisted he had to find 12 students willing to pay the full fees to make the journalism course viable, but he had only been able to gain eight.

He said many others had changed their minds because of the high fees imposed.

“Interest was every bit as lively as it has ever been,” he said. “Potential candidates simply turned away when they found out the cost.

“Newspapers throughout the Midlands are full of the by-lines of past students from the course.”

He has been involved with the course since it started in 1999 and has been the course leader for six years but has now been made redundant.

The year-long course teaches budding journalists news writing, media law, public affairs and shorthand.

Julie Peach, director of marketing and communications at Warwickshire College, said: “Warwickshire College regret that we are unable to run the NCTJ course from September 2010, despite having launched many successful journalists into their media careers from this course in the past few years.

“The decision to cut this course is due to the government having to make cuts in education funding and in line with this, Warwickshire College had to look at the viability of all its provision.

“We have been unable to attract the requisite minimum of 12 students to make the course viable. t is possibly indicative of the state of the journalism industry which has seen many journalists lose their jobs over the past year leading to uncertainty.”

Comments

Kevin Unitt (05/08/2010 14:59:53)
Shame. Great course and Peter was/is a great tutor. I’ve never been sued and put at least 90% of that down to his teaching.

Jack Thompson (05/08/2010 16:34:44)
There are other great options out there. Check out Clemond Thom’s website. http://www.ctjt.biz/

Danny Boyle (06/08/2010 12:09:38)
What sad, sad news. Peter and the other lecturers were at the top of their game – a real inspiration.

Andrew McLean (06/08/2010 13:47:20)
Gutted, was on the very first year of that course and it was an excellent one. The lecturers, Pete, Gordon and Peter Mitchell as it was when I was there, and their enthusiasm for it have a great deal to do with the fact that I’ve been a journalist for the past 10 years. All the best to Pete and his colleagues for the future.

Nurinder (09/08/2010 11:28:55)
I can’t believe funding has been stopped – Peter and Ann ran an excellent course, and I had an awseome time and they were both so suppotive!! Fingers cossed it’s not forever!