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August 2013 News

Ross Hawkes: Local reporting – at the heart of the past, present and future

Continuing our series of extracts from What Do We Mean By Local

Hyperlocal site claims hits boost over planning coverage

New visitors attracted by reports on controversial housing plans

Daily-turned-weekly to move offices after 30 years

Title will remain in the town centre

Regional magazine publisher in brawl with Masterchef judge

Incident at four-star hotel came “out of the blue”

Reporters take on five-mile run for charities

Weekly journalists were among more than 150 to tackle annual event

Regional daily’s chief sub dies on 42nd birthday

Editor leads tributes to journalist who died after brain haemorrhage

Publisher signs three-year deal with Manchester United

Contract will see programmes and magazines produced for club

Tor Clark: Can local newspapers survive in the digital age?

Latest extract in our serialisation of What Do We Mean By Local

Weekly launches £150,000 appeal to back new lifeboat

26-week campaign aims to raise funds for launch and recovery system

Regional daily appoints new business editor

Journalist has worked at title for six years

Paper ‘girl’ is one of country’s oldest at 85

Weekly lays claim to one of the oldest newspaper deliverers

Axed weekly editor prevented from joining new magazine

New title launched without involvement of former editor

Regional daily’s offices put up for sale

Title searching for new home in city

New law aims to improve access to inquests

Regulations come after campaigning by Newspaper Society

Ian Carter: Rethinking what local means to the audience

Continuing our series of extracts from What Do We Mean By Local?

Newspaper to pay damages over pornography allegations

Damages claim for regional Sunday title goes to High Court

The i Paper Talent Scheme DMG Media London, closes 20 Dec
Editor Agence France Presse Hong Kong, closes 31 Dec
Senior PR Executive Strand PR Barkway, Hertfordshire, closes 19 Dec
Corporate Investigations Researcher / Senior Researcher RLM Advisory Fully Remote, closes 6 Dec

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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.