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July 2011 News

Union ‘in the dark’ about job losses

Meeting will decide union’s next move

Competition to find best bloggers in Wales

The best bloggers in Wales are being sought as part of an annual competition. Nominations are now open for the 2011 Wales Blog Awards which this years has four new categories. The biggest one is a People’s Choice Award which will

Northcliffe completes line-up of big-city publishers

Nwe boss for West Country titles

Readers urged to help ‘save local newspapers’

The National Union of Journalists has called on the public to give their support to a newly launched campaign to save local newspapers. Eight people spoke at the recent campaign launch, including Thais Portilho-Shrimpton, NUJ mother-of-chapel at Newsquest South London where members

Axed executive bounces back in Midlands restructure

Two Trinity Mirror MDs to depart in reshuffle

Yorkshire journalists to go on strike from Friday

Union members to stage indefinite walkout over job cuts

Scotsman online editor to join new PR practice

Ambitious communications outfit recruits senior journalist

Weekly newspaper slammed for “appalling” error

PCC writes to Sly Bailey over newspaper’s ‘catastrophic failure’

Keep reporters in community, council tells Newsquest

Local authority to contact publisher over office closures

Union demands U-turn over Daily Record jobs

Trinity Mirror urged to reconsider job cuts at Scottish titles

Northern weekly praised for top sports coverage

Newspaper team mingled with sports stars at awards ceremony

Liverpool editors presented with freedom award

Two regional daily editors in Liverpool have been presented with a framed scroll to mark the Freedom of the City accolade. The Liverpool Echo and Daily Post have been granted the honour to mark 200 years of newspaper publication in

Cameron in pledge to local press as Murdoch scraps shamed tabloid

Regional news chief defends industry on BBC show

‘Toothless’ watchdog faces axe over phone-hacking scandal

Cameron and Miliband at one over fate of watchdog

New boss named for Hull newspaper centre

Third publisher announced in Northcliffe restructure

Reporter’s court challenge sees pervert named

Judge lifts ban after journalist’s email request

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.