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January 2020 News

Weekly launches expanded edition to serve outlying areas of patch

Pagination up by 40 as title remains free

Newspapers bid farewell to EU with Brexit splashes

Front pages show range of emotions as UK prepares for departure

Editor thought to be UK’s longest-serving leaves weekly after 44 years

News chief has overseen production of more than 2,000 editions

Editor demands court action to help smaller newsrooms cover trials

News chief says “better digital access” key to helping regional titles

Daily’s chief sports writer to defend title at national awards

Journalist won praise for speech at last year’s ceremony

Police to make further arrests as result of weekly’s child sex probe

Newspaper splashes on exclusive 10 months into investigation

Daily launches new podcast examining rise and fall of Militant

Labour faction controlled city council during 1980s

Editor urges Lords to help industry get ‘fairer deal’ from tech giants

News chief speaks out to peers on issue

Coach attack defendant fails in bid to stop regional daily covering case

Magistrates reject plea after photograph taken outside court

Editor affirms daily’s commitment to city after rival title’s launch

Figures show title reaching nine out of 10 people in print and online

Daily hits back at ‘sloppy’ journalism claims as new FoI campaign launched

Newspaper made “bold statement” against fake news last month

Daily fails in bid to remove bird poo from celebrated poet’s head

Council bars reporter from doing job on health and safety grounds

Editors call on media to support VE Day commemorations

Events planned across country in May

Editor leaves weekly after 10 months in charge as predecessor returns

News chief announces departure after 12 years with paper

Union slams government’s rejection of public interest news institute

Ministers’ response criticised as show “lack of vision”

Pub critic tells editor to ‘rot in hell’ in tongue-in-cheek farewell

Anonymous feature comes to an end after more than two years

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.