More than three quarters of candidates achieved senior status in the record-breaking latest round of National Qualification in Journalism examinations.
A total of 58 journalists out of 76, representing 76pc of those sitting, passed the exams in July – the highest pass rate since the NQJ replaced the National Certificate in Journalism (NCE) three years ago.
It beats the previous record of 74pc passing, set at the exams’ last sitting in March of this year.
The exams were sat at seven different centres across the UK on Friday 8 July.
Steve Nelson, NCTJ chief examiner, said: “I am full of admiration for today’s trainee journalists, who are not only multi-skilled and operating on various platforms but also required to show thorough knowledge in ever-expanding areas of media law and ethics.
“The NQJ exams can only be taken after a minimum training period of 18 months, and during that time the trainees will have tackled a multitude of stories and honed their skills.
“The attainment of the industry’s professional qualification remains a key moment in the careers of these journalists.”
Candidates must be successful in all four parts of the NQJ – interview, media law and practice, logbook and news report – to pass and achieve senior status.
Of the 76 participating, 57 were sitting for the first time, with 19 candidates re-sitting parts of the exam.
There was a record 83pc rate for the news interview paper, with 59 successful candidates from the 71 who sat.
The media law and practice paper produced an 89pc pass rate, with success for 58 of the 65 candidates.
Fifty five candidates passed the news report exam. In total, 71 candidates sat this exam, giving a pass rate of 77pc, just short of the record 79pc success in March 2016.
In the e-logbook section, there was a 95pc pass rate, with 58 successful candidates from 61 who submitted their work.
The next NQJ exam will take place on Friday 4 November 2016, with the closing date for enrolment being Friday, 23 September 2016.
The full list of newly-qualified seniors is as follows:
Naomi Agius, Bracknell News
Polly Albany-Ward, Croydon Advertiser
Samuel Balls, Essex Chronicle
Thomas Barnes, Waltham Forest Guardian
Federica Bedendo, Times & Star
Guy Bell, Brentwood Gazette
Jessica Bell, News Shopper
Emma Kate Billingham, Maidenhead Advertiser
Ralph Blackburn, Ilford Recorder
Benjamin Blosse, Hull Daily Mail
John Blow, Wakefield Express
Jonny Bonell, North Devon Journal
Richard Brown, Essex Chronicle
Rachael Burford, Surrey Comet
Iain Burns, Newham Recorder
Michael Carr, Southern Daily Echo
Rebecca Choules, Hemel Hempstead Gazette
Michael Cox, Yellow Advertiser
Isaac Anthony Crowson, Derby Evening Telegraph
Arandeep Singh Dhillon, Warrington Guardian
Matthew Discombe, The Gloucester Citizen
Alexander Drury, Bracknell News
Dayna Louise Farrington, Kidderminster Shuttle
David Gazet, Kent Messenger
Jordan Stuart Harris, Express & Star
Daniel Heald, Border Counties Advertizer
Michael Holmes, Blackpool Gazette
Amani Hughes, Surrey Advertiser
Lucy Kenderdine, Oldham Evening Chronicle
Joel Lamy, Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Callum Lawton, Midweek Herald
Stefan Mackley, Gazette & Herald
Felicity MacNamara, Halifax Evening Courier
Bodhi Maia, Central Somerset Gazette
Thomas Malina, Diss Express
William Mata, Harlow Star
Libby McBride, Brentwood Gazette
Samuel Meadows, Hertfordshire Mercury
Hannah Mirsky, Cambridge News
Simon Mulligan, St Helens Star
Jason Noble, Ipswich Star & East Anglian Daily Times
Alistair Stewart Paterson, Bridlington Free Press
Sam Petherick, Bath Chronicle
Jack Pitts, South Wales Evening Post
Clarissa Place, Sidmouth Herald
Michael Race, Oxford Mail
Iram Ramzan, Oldham Evening Chronicle
James Robinson, Andover Advertiser
Daniel Jonathan Sharp, Stourbridge News
David Spereall, Hull Daily Mail
Matthew Stott, Ipswich Star & East Anglian Daily Times
Joshua Thomas, Cambridge News
Liam Waite, Times & Star
Stephanie Danika Wareham, Bucks Free Press
Bethany Whymark, Eastern Daily Press
Andrew Wilkins, Slough Observer
Daniel Wilkins, Exmouth Journal
Tanya Yilmaz, Wiltshire Times
Well done to all here. Despite all the problems, there’s still enough out there to enjoy great careers in a great calling.
Report this comment
Well done all. Now get out there and bring in some well-written exclusives!
Report this comment