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NCTJ launches new skills academy for working journalists

Joanne ButcherA service aimed at helping in-work journalists to learn new skills at any stage of their career is being launched by the NCTJ.

The National Council for the Training of Journalists has this morning announced the launch of its Journalism Skills Academy, which will offer online courses and resources for journalists at all stages of their careers on subjects including podcasting, fact-checking, verification techniques and media law updates.

As part of the move the National Qualification in Journalism will be available to study online, with the NCTJ aiming to “significantly increase the number of professionals testing themselves against the higher standard”.

Free refresher courses and resources will also be available, as well as paid-for programmes designed to develop particular journalistic skills.

NCTJ’s chief executive Joanne Butcher, pictured, said: “Quality journalism training and high standards are what the NCTJ is all about.

“Whilst we are best-known for our entry-level training and qualifications, we recognise the vital importance of on-going development to maintain high standards and equip journalists with new skills at a time of unprecedented change.

“We are also conscious of the debates around trust and standards.

“The new academy will help news media businesses and individual journalists demonstrate that they are committed to professional practise and learning new skills.”

The Journalism Skills Academy will go live this autumn and the NCTJ intends to scale up the project significantly over the following year.

Its launch has been welcomed by organisations including Reach plc, the BBC and Reuters.

Alan Edmunds, managing director of Reach regionals, said: “In challenging times for the industry, ensuring that our journalism is of the highest quality remains a paramount objective.

“The NCTJ’s Skills Academy will play an important part in keeping journalists up to date with ever-changing technology, media law and regulation, and the other fundamentals of our trade.”