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January 2012 News

Runaway poll win for girl’s school ‘head’-line

Echo story tops annual HTFP contest

Jobs to go as Suffolk daily axes Saturday edition

Archant title to move to five days a week

Former daily deputy editor dies aged 58

‘Newsroom legend’ spent three decades on paper

Regional journalist pens Sir Jimmy’s biography

Reporter regularly met with 80s icon

Weekly helps save town’s RSPCA branch

Appeal hits target in less than two months

South West editor to switch titles

Phelan to editor second daily-turned-weekly

Trinity Mirror buys digital communications company

Newspaper publisher Trinity Mirror has announced the acquisition of a specialist digital communications company for £8m. Based in Sunderland, Communicator Corp specialises in providing highly-targeted and sophisticated email and mobile communications in more than 170 countries. Trinity said the acquisition

Jobs to go as Midlands print centre closes

Decision follows company’s review of printing operations

New MD named for London newspaper publisher

Boss of seven years decides to move on

‘Dedicated’ former agency reporter loses cancer battle

Journalist was also keen ornithologist

Dyson at Large: There’s something fishy going on here

HTFP blogger heads for the hills for latest review

Newspaper launches campaign to help cancer patients

Thousands signed petition for unit

Daily reveals council cover-up on shops that break law

Traders who sold knifes to children not named

Essex journalists to ballot over pay

Chaple fears salaries will remain frozen

Weekly wins fight to free Thalidomide victim from Filipino jail

Convicted drug smuggler faced prospect of dying behind bars

Parliamentary plaudits for regional daily’s campaign

Editor and chief reporter praised in Commons

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.