The pass rate for the National Qualification in Journalism has fallen to 61pc, with examiners blaming logbook errors for the decline.
A total of 72 candidates sat the exams on 3 July at eight centres across the UK and 44 passed them to become senior journalists.
The pass rate for the last exams in March this year was a record-equalling 72pc, which matched the results from July last year.
The NCTJ said that the fall in the pass rate for the journalist exams could be partly attributed to 14pc of logbook entries being submitted incorrectly.
Examiners said it was “bitterly disappointing” that there was a “significant rise” in the number of candidates who had failed to upload the correct information for the e-logbook, resulting in a pass rate of 86pc for that section.
Commenting on the 61pc pass rate, NQJ chief examiner Steve Nelson said: “The logbook, which is completed over time and submitted in advance, is just as important as the three exam sections – news interview, news report and media law and practice – and requires the same attention to detail.
“Candidates who, through errors or omissions, failed the logbook can resubmit and have their work reassessed in November.
“Results in the other sections were, for the most part, in line with those of previous sittings, however, achievement in the news report section was lower than usual.”
The final NQJ for photographers also took place on 9 July, with both candidates passing, as the qualification is being scrapped due to a lack of demand.
But the National Council for the Training of Journalists said a specialist photography option is being added to the Diploma in Journalism and will be available from September.
The full list of newly-qualified seniors is:
Esme Louise Ashcroft, Bristol Post
Aidan Barlow, Kentish Gazette
Jessica Bave, Basingstoke Gazette
Michael Benke, Swindon Advertiser
Imogen Blake, Ham & High
Bess Browning, Faversham News
Daniel Cain, Worthing Herald
Nicholas Carding Eastern Daily Press
Laura Cartledge, Chichester Observer
Louisa Clarence-Smith, Wimbledon Guardian
Daniel Clark, Herald Express
Beren Cross, Swindon Advertiser
Gareth Davies, The Argus
Eleanor Davis, Surrey Advertiser
Robert Doman, NWN Media
Greg Farrimond, Wigan Evening Post
Samantha Fisher, Leicester Mercury
Christopher Flanagan, Lancashire Telegraph
Rebecca Flood, The News Shopper
Harvey John Gavin, Sidmouth Herald
Chiara Giordano, The Herald, Plymouth
Amie Gordon, Midhurst and Petworth Observer
Rob Lowson, Telegraph & Argus
Ben Lugg, Stratford-upon-Avon Herald
Peter Madeley, Express & Star
Alexander McIntyre, Congleton Chronicle
Sabah Meddings, Eastern Daily Press
Simon Meechan, Maidenhead Advertiser
Joanna Morris, The Northern Echo
Sophie Morton, Newham Recorder
Thomas Alexander Morton, Shropshire Star
Charlotte Louise Neal, Hampshire Chronicle
David Parker, Newark Advertiser
Rebecca Pike, Canterbury Times
Sophie Grace Prideaux, Bristol Post
Sarah Robinson, Weston, Worle & Somerset Mercury
Chloe Smith, The Cornishman
Harley Tamplin, West Sussex County Times
Carys Thomas, South Wales Argus
Berny Torre, Crawley Observer
James Walker, Kent Messenger
Rhian Waller, NWN Media
William Watkinson, Essex Chronicle
Richard Welch, South Wales Evening Post
The newly-qualified photographers are:
Emma Boyd, The Westmorland Gazette
Nick Hands, The Sentinel