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February 2013 News

Tribunal to rule on journalist’s bid to see council emails

Political editor challenges town hall bosses over housing scheme

TV funnygirl reveals X-rated newspaper sales technique

Editor thanks comedienne for boosting sales of newspaper

Editors’ body to help curb internet trolls

SoE to carry out research into ‘online hate crime’

Birmingham political editor to head Newspaper Conference

A long-serving regional political editor is to be this year’s chairman of the Newspaper Conference. Jon Walker, political editor of the Birmingham Mail for the past ten years, succeeds Western Morning News London editor Graeme Demianyk in the role. The

Star readers rally round after children’s playhouse stolen

Generous Ipswich Star readers rallied round to help after nursery school children were left saddened when their playhouse was stolen. Thieves pinched the £150 flat pack playhouse, bought using money raised by staff and parents, after a delivery driver left

Group editor to bow out after 42-year career

Former national sports editor took charge of weeklies

Regional daily launches fight for fairer school funding

Campaign calls for extra cash for county’s schools

Public affairs journalism textbook launches third edition

The third edition of a book which guides aspiring and practising journalists about local and central government will be launched next month. Essential Public Affairs for Journalists has been updated by James Morrison for a third edition to include the

Fleet Street blogger revealed as ex-regional reporter

Move coincides with book release about inner workings of tabloid journalism

Regional daily invites readers to take horsemeat test

The growing scandal over the sale of horsemeat saw one regional daily devise an innovative taste test for readers. Nottingham Post health reporter Dominic Howell took to the streets with two platefuls of sausages – one made with horsemeat and

Cregan plea change prompts special late edition

Crime reporter was only newspaper journalist present in court

Applications for journalism degrees rise to nearly 15,000

Increase of 1.4pc comes after large fall in applicants in 2012

Journalists defeat naming ban on child murder victim

Judge said Section 39 order should not have been made

Top-selling regional daily unveils makeover

Story count on some pages to be cut by around half

Tributes paid after night editor dies suddenly at 61

Journalist worked for regional daily for more than 30 years

Lecturer creates shorthand app for budding journalists

Application helps students revise basics of teeline

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.