Seven apprentice journalists are set to be recruited as part of a new scheme being launched by a regional publisher.
Johnston Press is set to offer the 18-month paid apprenticeships which will see successful candidates work in newsrooms four days each week, with a fifth day spent at college.
Four of the positions will be based in Sussex, while three will work on JP titles in Yorkshire.
Applicants must be at least 18-years-old, have 5 A*-C GCSEs or the equivalent qualifications including English and Maths.
The company says they will ideally also have two A levels or a Btec equivalent.
Those based in Sussex will spend one day a week training at Portsmouth’s Highbury College, while those in Yorkshire will train at Sheffield.
Jeremy Clifford, editor-in-chief at Johnston Press, said: “We are pleased we have been able to work with training colleges to offer opportunities to some young, talented people, hungry to start their working careers in journalism.
“We will be looking to recruit the best candidates who understand their communities and want to learn the skills of journalism and progress their careers with us. We have a proud track record in delivering the best training for our journalists.”
More information can be found here.
Elsewhere, Newsquest South London has announced it is expanding its Young Reporter scheme to Sussex for the first time.
The scheme is open to young people aged 14 to 18, and allows them to get articles published while they build up a portfolio of work.
Schools across Sussex are now being invited to put their pupils forward.
Participants in the 2017 Newsquest South London young reporter scheme
Newsquest’s Diana Jarvis, who started the scheme in 2008, said: “I had no idea when I approached the editor, how successful it would be.
“Over the years, it has gone from strength to strength and students who started the scheme with me nine years ago have gone on to become professional journalists.
“Schools worry that there will be a lot of extra work but that is not the case. Once the student names are given to Newsquest, we take over and they report directly to me.”
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Delighted to see JP recruiting apprentices.
Excellent move and enables the company to recruit local people who otherwise might miss out on the chance of becoming a reporter.
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A noble move but……………..are there enough old hands still in place to teach these new hands the ways of the journalistic world that can’t be taught in college?
And was happens when the fixed term 18 month contracts are up?
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Good for students but my cynical side sees JP still making senior journalists redundant to the point that newsrooms are dangerously under staffed. Is this an attempt to fill senior gaps at apprentice wages? Quality is not one of JPs star trademarks (eg: replacing pro photos with shaky mobile phone snaps). As long as there is a body at a computer experience and quality don’t matter! You can say I’m being cynical and begrudging…but I know JP too well!
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Let’s just hope this excellent initiative brings jobs to all the trainees at the e d of they’re placements and these are not just ways to secure cheap labour
Though I’m sure that’s not the case here
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So after 18 months of earning about £560 a month, there is no job and no qualification?
Am I wrong?
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Dave S – you are incorrect. After 18 months they will achieve the NCTJ-accredited Diploma in Journalism and, although not guaranteed a job with the company, many apprentices at other media firms have been kept on. Companies tend to like keeping hold of local talent who they have paid to train and have put so much time and effort into.
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No better place to start your career – a true baptism of fire. As they say, start at the bottom and work your way up, get the most difficult career experience out of the way first and use it to get a better job elsewhere.
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Highbury Journos: “Companies tend to like keeping hold of local talent who they have paid to train and have put so much time and effort into. ”
So JP will of course be offering a job to every apprentice under this scheme. It makes sense. Why train someone to work for another company?
I hope the training does not include lifting quotes from social media and using them as the sole basis for a page lead. Plenty of that goes on in JP including my own paper.
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