Newly qualified seniors have recorded the third highest pass rate for the National Qualification in Journalism since its introduction in 2013.

The March sitting of the senior exams saw 72pc of candidates qualify as senior journalists, with 41 out of 57 making the grade.

The NQJ has now had 13 sittings since it replaced the National Certificate in Journalism four years ago, with the highest ever pass rate being 78pc in July 2016.

The percentage of candidates passing is also up on the November 2016 sitting, when 68pc of candidates were successful across all four parts of the NQJ – interview, media law and practice, logbook and news report.

Of the 57 candidates who sat last month, 43 were taking the exam for the first time and 14 were re-sitting.

NCTJ chief examiner Steve Nelson said: “The pass rate had dipped in the previous sitting, so I am delighted to see this improvement.

“The best figures came from the media law and practice section, and this reflects the increased focus on legal and ethical issues.

“There was also a much-improved pass rate in the news interview section and a slight increase in the news report section.”

Pass rates for the individual sections were: Logbook 98pc, media law and practice 82pc, news report 72pc and interview 78pc.

The next sitting will take place on 7 July.

The full list of successful candidates is as follows:

Ann-Marie Abbasah – Ilford Recorder
Joel Adams – The Argus, Brighton
Jack Averty – Express & Star, Wolverhampton
Alexander Ballinger – Get West London
Rochelle Barrand – Doncaster Free Press
Stephanie Brawn – Lancashire Telegraph
Eve Buckland – Swindon Advertiser
Clare Butler Express & Star, Wolverhampton
Loughlan Campbell – The News, Portsmouth
Stewart Carr – Luton Herald & Post
Nick Charity – Mansfield Chad
Richard Craig – Epsom Guardian
Thomas Dalby – Harwich & Manningtree Standard
Sophie Day – Hunts Post
Rosaleen Fenton – Ilford Recorder
Freya Findlay – The Cumberland News
Christopher Flanagan – Welwyn & Hatfield Times
Joshua Fordham – The Western Gazette
James Harrison – Maidenhead Advertiser
Ben Hendry – Press & Journal, Aberdeen
Tom Herbert – Buckinghamshire Advertiser
Joseph Keith – Yorkshire Evening Post
Robert Langley – Retford Times
David Lee – Windsor & Eton Express
Erin Lyons – The Chronicle Series
David Mackie – The Press, York
Tom Matthews – Croydon Advertiser
Kieran Murray – Bridlington Free Press
Amy Nickalls – Folkestone Herald
Katherine Palmer – Braintree & Witham Times
James Peck – Retford Times
Daniel Prince – Sunderland Echo
David Rivers – Ealing Gazette
Connie Rusk – Surrey Advertiser
Geraldine Scott – Eastern Daily Press
Caleb Spencer – Cambrian News
Michael Steward – Saffron Walden Reporter
Alexander Thorp – Grimsby Telegraph
Huw Wales – Hertfordshire Mercury
Philip Winter – Goole Times
James Woolven – Isle of Wight County Press