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October 2016 News

NMA launches legal action over Impress recognition

Lawyers believe decision should be taken to judicial review

Editor of six weeklies quits to take up new science role

News chief to leave regional publisher next month.

Council defies government to launch monthly newsletter

Political opposition to ‘propaganda on the rates’ publication

Photographer recalls hospital haunting

Regional daily picture editor spent 10 years as porter

Almost 50,000 join bone marrow register within 48 hours of daily’s plea

Newspaper revealed girl’s plight after two donors pulled out

Readers get cheap fish after chippy owner loses bet with deputy sports editor

Restaurant proprieter claimed football manager would not leave club

Ex-editor pays tribute to newspaper’s longest-serving secretary

“Kindness personified” spent 36 years with newspaper

Regional publisher lands Tony Blair exclusive

Former PM writes for pro-European newspaper

‘Courts not covered properly’ admit more than half of editors

New research also shows 55pc happy to rely on police press releases

FoI reveals police officer warned against answering daily’s enquiry

Union seeks clarification from force over equal treatment of media outlets

Monopoly makers honour regional daily with ‘Fleet Street’ square

Newspaper latest to be given space on its patch’s version of game

Tougher sentence bid for killer drivers launched by regional daily

Newspaper demands change in law from Government

Weekly claims ‘world first’ with all-female back page

Newspaper puts women’s sport in spotlight

Friday Funnies: Broom story shows weekly has handle on crime

Appropriately-named chief reporter covers shocking act

Regional daily editor quits company after 27 years

News chief to launch media consultancy

Weekly launches new edition with 14 pages of local news

Editor hopes to give readers “credible voice”

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.