Broadcaster Piers Morgan has helped launch an online ‘summer school’ designed to provide “an introduction to journalism for beginners.”

The NCTJ is releasing a series of ‘video masterclasses’ via its YouTube channel on topics such as newsgathering, interviewing skills, media law, sports journalism and broadcasting.

Contributors include NCTJ patron and Sky News correspondent Alex Crawford, the BBC’s Rianna Croxford, Sky Sports News presenter Dharmesh Sheth and Sheffield University legal expert Mark Hanna.

Harlow College alumnus and former Mirror editor Piers Morgan has given his backing for the project in a video released today.
The Good Morning Britain presenter said: “To anyone thinking that journalism might be for them, I would say ‘go for it’. The summer school which the NCTJ has created is a great way to find out more.

“I started out in the business by training for my NCTJ qualification at Harlow College in Essex, which I’m glad to say is still going strong.

“The skills I learnt there, about how to spot and construct a story, how to interview people, how to navigate the strange worlds of national and local politics, the law – and even how to take shorthand notes at 100 words per minute – have stayed with me throughout my career, and always been unbelievably useful.”

“And if you think this industry isn’t for you, well think twice. Any person from any background can do journalism with the right attitude and the right skills.”

The first summer school instalment, an introduction to journalism from Sky News special correspondent Alex, has also been released today. In her session, she highlights how vital journalism is in holding authority to account.

Each of the videos will provide an insight into a different area of the industry, or a different journalistic discipline and are designed to pave the way for viewers to consider studying for a journalism qualification via distance learning or an NCTJ-accredited course.

Sarah Kenny, marketing and communications manager at the NCTJ, said: “We are very pleased to have produced this summer school series. We hope the tips and insights shared by our expert presenters will inspire people – especially those coming to the end of their time at school – to consider training for a career in journalism.

“By lifting the lid on the practical skills that journalists use day to day, we hope our masterclasses will help to demystify an industry that can occasionally feel remote to people looking in from the outside.”