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April 2013 News

Weekly’s redesign sees cover price rise by 67pc

Newsagents hit out after publisher fails to pass on full increases

Inquest to open on journalist who died sleeping rough

Two arrested and bailed over magazine editor’s death

Council bans reporters from community grant meetings

Decisions over small grants will be held in private in future

Rival dailies battle it out for weekend readers

Move comes as one paper launches first 50,000-copy giveaway

Former regional journalist dies in St Lucia at 58

Roles held at newspapers and magazines around the world

Weekly paper goes on air with launch of radio show

Monthly programme presented by two reporters

Director of Scottish Newspaper Society steps down

The director of the Scottish Newspaper Society has stepped down after less than a year in the role. Jim Chisholm was appointed to lead the organisation last June but said he had found it too much to combine the role

Measles outbreak blamed on paper’s 1990s campaign

Editor says initiative ‘pre-dated entire newsroom’

Union demands end to ‘poverty pay’ for journalists

Petition calls for an end to pay freeze at regional publisher

Funnies File: Winnie-the-Pooh – violent criminal?

Loveable children’s characters have been implicated in criminal activity in a layout gaffe. In the Brampton Guardian, a Canadian paper, blow-up figures of Winnie-the-Pooh and the Abominable Snowman featured in a front-page picture – which was placed alongside a story headlined

Weekly offers paid internships in takeover challenge

Ten college students handed reins of title for two weeks

Fresh searches launched in bid to find missing journalist

Rescue team to scan loch as efforts renewed to find reporter

Editor moves to Local World transformation team

Journalist will run new channels for publisher

Cancer charity gets £50k boost from daily’s appeal

Money to help build house for families of children with cancer

Weekly secures exclusive with MP on petition ‘stunt’

Work and Pensions Secretary challenged to live on £53 a week

New-look weekend editions for top-selling dailies

Pagination doubled with new pull-out but cover price will rise by a third

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.