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April 2011 News

Dyson at Large: A Jack Russell on ice please

HTFP blogger reviews the rival weeklies in Boston

South Coast journalists vote to go on strike

Ballot held over compulsory redundancies and pay dispute

Paid-for weekly ceases publication after 30 years

Final edition of long-standing paper published

Archant set to axe jobs in editorial review

No reporting posts will be lost says publisher

Weekly paper saved as founder comes back on board

Independent title bought out to prevent closure

Police force carries out ‘tweet-a-thon’ from court

Experiment carried out after ‘decline’ in reporting by local papers

Take Five: Peter Barron

Northern Echo editor kicks off our new series

Welcome to your new-look HoldtheFrontPage

Makeover for journalism news and jobs site after 11 years

HTFPConnect – Your community, your space

Welcome to HTFPConnect, the new blogging and social networking platform for HoldtheFrontPage. You can use this site to link up with other journalists – colleagues, former colleagues and college mates – and to create your own blogs on the site.

Editor leaves group in cost-cutting restructure

Journalist had worked for company for 20 years

Former reporter jailed for leaking police information

Ex-journalist guilty of misconduct in public office

Tindle in redundancy threat to striking journalists

Walkout voted for because of low staff numbers at weeklies

Son on murder charge after former journalist’s death

Ex-regional daily reporter found dead at home

Crime case sees weekly publish two days early

Title went to press with six-page exclusive on body exhumation

Belfast to host journalism skills conference

Details announced for annual journalism training event

Whistleblower reinstated after weekly’s campaign

Paper thanked for exposing overcharging of vulnerable adults

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.