A promotional campaign is being launched to help would-be journalism students choose the right courses.
The National Council for the Training of Journalists says too many young people seeking to enter the industry are taking “bogus qualifications” which don’t give them the skills they need/
Now it is planning a six-month campaign to highlight accredited courses to potential students and careers advisers.
It will be using careers websites and smartphone apps to target careers advisers and students interested in undergraduate, postgraduate, further education, apprenticeship and independent provider courses.
Joanne Butcher, NCTJ chief executive, said: “Many young people complete expensive courses and pass bogus qualifications that don’t provide them with the vocational skills they need to get jobs, or qualifications that editors trust. The problem is being compounded by higher tuition fees and poor careers advice.
“We want to support the centres that deliver high-quality accredited journalism courses, and give those interested in journalism careers access to reliable information so they are better placed to make an informed decision about their training options.”
Sign up for our free daily email bulletin
Follow HTFP on Twitter
Got a story? Email the Editor at
I have several questions for Ms Butcher
1. Where are the jobs for all of these students ?
2. The majority of NCTJ courses are preliminary qualifications that require some form or work experience and a proficiency test to complete the training to senior grade – how can students achieve this without a job ?
3. Why do the NCTJ keep accrediting new courses when there are no jobs for the students ?
4. How many NCTJ student actually get a job in the newspaper industry after completing a course ?
This is a classic statement that proves how out of touch with the newspaper industry the NCTJ have become.
The latest NCTJ results data lists 63 courses, assuming a minimum of 15 students per course the NCTJ are already producing at least 1,000 trainee journalists per year !
But it will of course increase student numbers and bring more money into the NCTJ – what did you say about ‘bogus qualifications and jobs’ Ms Butcher ?
Report this comment
Four days have passed and we are still waiting for a response from Ms Butcher.
Perhaps a reporter from Hold the Front Page could ask some of the NCTJ board members to respond ?
Students looking for a career really should have the answers before signing up to any NCTJ course.
Report this comment