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Journalism courses lose NCTJ seal of approval

Journalism courses at a South Coast university have lost their accreditation with the National Council for the Training of Journalists after failing to meet its standards.

Directors at the NCTJ have decided not to renew accreditation for the University of Portsmouth’s single honours BA Journalism course, while the institution decided not to seek re-accreditation for its combined honours BA Journalism courses.

The NCTJ said the single honours course had not met with its accreditation standards but would not give any further details of its decision.

However a university spokeswoman said the move was because not enough students on the courses were choosing the sit the NCTJ exams as part of their degrees.

Fergus Carr, head of the school of humanities and social sciences, said: “The University of Portsmouth is disappointed with the decision by the NCTJ to halt accreditation of the journalism course half way through the first cohort of students completing the syllabus.

“We are very proud of our track record and the quality of our courses which have produced outstanding journalists in print and online media and generated magazine and web editors.

“The quality of our teaching and our excellent facilities are recognised by the NCTJ and discussions with them are ongoing.”

The NCTJ said students on courses at the university would continue to be supported and have the chance to sit its exams.

It comes as the organisation has announced the accreditation for the first time of five journalism courses, which meet its ‘gold standard’.

These are:

  • Belfast Metropolitan College – Academic Year Journalism
  • North West Regional College – Academic Year Newspaper Journalism
  • Nottingham Trent University – MA Magazine Journalism
  • University of Sunderland – MA Sports Journalism
  • Up to Speed Journalism Training – Fast-track PhotojournalismThe approval of the courses means there are now two centres offering NCTJ courses in photojournalism – with Up to Speed Journalism Training joining the long-established courses at Sheffield College.Seven courses have also achieved re-accreditation by the NCTJ and they are:
  • Cardiff University – PgDip Newspaper Journalism
  • Cornwall College – Fast-track Pre-entry Journalism
  • St Mary’s University College – MA Sports Journalism
  • The Sheffield College, Norton College – Academic Year Journalism and Fast-track Journalism
  • University of Salford – MA/PgDip Journalism
  • University of Ulster – MA/PgDip Journalism
  • Up to Speed Journalism Training – Fast-track Journalism
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    3 comments

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    • March 21, 2011 at 9:47 am
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      Yup, the NCTJ has become a shadow of what it was and is now just a business module..

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    • March 21, 2011 at 10:30 am
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      Agreed Old Hack. The giveaway is in another story. The NCTJ has been awarded the Investor in People Gold standard. Investor in People is a total waste of time, it just gives companies something nice to put on the website and headed paper. The reality, it is just a title. My employer is allegedly one of these companies. The only investing they do is in shareholder pocket while us galley slaves have to be content with a 3 per cent rise, the first in four years. I’m afraid to say, the quality of most budding journalists coming out of any University nowadays leaves a lot to be desired.

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