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January 2012 News

New free newspaper to launch in Great Yarmouth

Print run of 50,000 planned for independent title

Scottish daily nails Titanic myth as it goes tabloid

Editor sets record straight on shipping tragedy coverage

Redundancies invited at Tindle’s South London flagship

Company seeks editorial job cuts at weekly

Title launch aims to cash in on Trinity merger

Local group to publish new weekly on Merseyside

New magazine role for North West weekly editor

Expansion plans for specialist business publication

Polish-language weekly loses nothing in translation

Does the UK’s Polish community have a stronger stomach for Anglo-Saxon slang than the rest of the populace – or was it just a gaffe? Either way, the end result was the same: hundreds of copies of a weekly newspaper

‘Our flame will burn on’ says Liverpool daily

End of era as 157-year-old title prepares to turn weekly

Regional editors to give evidence to Leveson inquiry

Chance for industry to put point of view

Writing prize named after journalist of half a century

A writing prize has been launched in memory of a Scottish journalist who died two years ago. Jim Dow, former commercial property editor for The Scotsman, died aged 71 after a career spanning more than half a century. Now the Jim

Managing editor departs in Newsquest restructure

London news chief was active in PCC and SoE

South London newspaper launches new edition

Northcliffe-owned weekly extends its coverage

Cameron praises local press for ‘boosting economy’

PM tweeted about successful scheme

Families to be pre-warned about press at inquests

Move aims to avoid distress for relatives

Two local newspaper companies re-launch websites

A number of regional newspapers are to re-launch their websites after buying content management systems from Iliffe News and Media. Scottish Provincial Press has moved all 15 of its newspaper sites, including the Inverness Courier, on to the Iliffe-owned Portal Constructor content

Newspaper offices to close as part of Scottish merger

Reporters will be moved out of towns

Give editors the chop, not staff say Archant journalists

Titles set to implement changes this month

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.