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March 2013 News

Weeklies take to road in bid to save hospital

Campaign battle buses join protest march

Johnston Press unveils first new-look website

Regional daily is first to pilot new design

Publisher’s rollout of live news blogs continues

A regional daily has joined fellow Trinity Mirror titles by launching a daily live news blog on its website. The Liverpool Echo has set up the homepage blog which will be updated throughout the day with news, sport, traffic and

Showdown averted as deal reached on press regulation

Party leaders reach agreement after 2.30am talks

Mixed reactions to deal on press regulation

Union says new regulator will be genuinely independent

Outrage after reporter’s notes confiscated by council clerk

Journalist ejected after meeting was declared private mid-way through

Standard takes top honours at revived JP awards

All the winners from company awards night

Regional daily health reporter goes ‘deaf for the day’

Journalist experiences newsroom life while hearing is impaired

Reporter’s taste-test inspires eye-catching bill

Readers took a shine to the eye-catching placard

Blogger handed £25k court bill over libel claims

A blogger who was arrested for videoing a council meeting has been ordered to pay £25,000 damages to the chief executive after losing a libel suit. Jacqui Thompson, who has been writing her blog about Carmarthenshire County Council since 2009,

Former weekly journalist lands top job with Yahoo

Time at newspaper described as ‘best training I ever got’

Queen reads regional newspapers: the photographic proof!

Footage from Balmoral sitting room shows collection of newspapers

Daily editor demands apology for Gove schools slur

Education secretary spoke of “smell of defeatism” in schools

Regional daily unveils new-look website to readers

Only users with Facebook accounts able to comment

Seven new categories for Online Media Awards

Ceremony to be held at Arsenal FC stadium in June

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.