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November 2020 News

City news site creates 19 journalism jobs in bid to expand coverage

Call for people “under-represented in local journalism” to apply

Editor ‘horrified’ as hoax leaflets spread fake coronavirus news

Editor and city health chief condemn hoax pamphlets

Editorial boss who helped oversee digital switch leaves regional publisher

News chief has spent 43 years in journalism and PR

Regional journalists treated as ‘subhuman’ during pandemic, editor says

News chief hits out at “naysayers and Covid-19 deniers”

Flats plan revealed for former journalism training centre

Building was used by sister dailies to train hundreds of reporters

Weekly newspaper changes name to match online title

Rebrand was delayed by coronavirus

More than half of student newspapers fear closure in next year

Majority of publications have face budget cuts

Tier-three restrictions dominate dailies’ front pages as new rules revealed

Splashes highlight readers’ “anger” and regional imbalance

Publisher ‘exceeding market expectations’ despite revenue decline

Company reveals digital growth after axing hundreds of jobs

Photographer and ‘huge asset’ leaves weeklies after 35 years

Editor pays tribute to “exceptional” servant of newspapers

Government launches plan to get ‘fair deal’ for local press from tech giants

Move will “enhance the sustainability of high-quality online journalism”

Peers demand ‘urgent’ funds to help regional press recruit more apprentices

Review says government’s “failure to act has cost young people and the industry”

ITV News editor calls for more journalists to be based away from London

National news boss shares fears over future of “good regional journalism”

Detectives probe bid to ‘silence’ journalist at daily

Editor condemns “outrageous” threat

Journalist sent rape threats and ‘creepy’ abuse after TV appearances

Dozens of men track down reporter’s private social media profiles

Weekly gives away more than £30,000 of ads in industry ‘first’

All adverts carried in edition are free to clients

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.