A leading regional newspaper company has agreed to sponsor an annual award for shorthand in a bid to underline the continuing importance of the skill.

Archant is to back the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ award for the best shorthand performance at 100 words per minute, due to be handed out next month a the organisation’s annual Shorthand Seminar in London.

The winning student will receive a certificate and also a cheque for £250, to be presented by an Archant executive.

Archant chief executive Adrian Jeakings said: “Fast and accurate note-taking and fact-gathering is a key skill for our reporters and helps to underpin the quality of our publications, which is paramount for our audience. We are therefore delighted to support this award.”

NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher added: “We are delighted that Archant is sponsoring this award. The NCTJ awards recognise exceptional students and it is fantastic that the largest independent regional media group in the UK is supporting young talent and high standards of performance in this way.”

The BBC Radio 4 programme Word of Mouth recently broadcast an episode on the history and use of shorthand in which NCTJ chairman Kim Fletcher commented that the skill was “as important as ever.”