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October 2011 News

Newspaper campaign lights up readers’ lives

Readers of weekly title won’t be kept in dark

Weekly title in the pink for charity

Paper joins campaign to paint town pink

Take Five: Martin Buhagiar

North London editor takes our quick quiz

TV presenter to speak of newspaper career

A former television news presenter who started her career on a local newspaper will return to the town to talk about her time on the daily title. Ex GMTV presenter Penny Smith started her career on Johnston Press title the

Shortlist for NCTJ excellence awards is published

Winners will to be announced at SoE conference

New jobs created at newspaper that axed staff

Weekly title is looking for senior reporters

Publisher debates website changes with former editor

Site ‘far from finished article’ says digital content chief

Welsh daily ‘will have no readers left’ says academic

Essay states public could save newspaper

Friends mark retirement of respected journalist

Former reporter covered major news stories

Journalist hits peak in cycle challenge

Reporter beat target by over two seconds

Property websites merge in bid to rival Rightmove

Deal will create two dominant players in market

Lincolnshire title’s last daily edition hits streets

End of era as Echo prepares to go weekly

‘Brilliant’ journalist loses battle with cancer

Reporter’s career spanned five decades

Regional daily breached code in inquest report

PCC calls on editors to ensure notes are kept

Former Tory minister Lord Hunt to head PCC

Peer charged with “renewal” of self-regulation

Dacre speaks up for regional press at inquiry

Local journalists often paid a pittance says Mail editor

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.