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Logbook errors blamed as pass rate for seniors exam falls

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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