AddThis SmartLayers

Journalists return to Oxdown for first time in 15 years

The fictitious town of Oxdown has been brought back to life by the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

The town was created in the 1970s as the setting for a number of scenarios during NCTJ examinations, with candidates serving as reporters on the equally fictitious Oxdown Gazette.

Oxdown was retired from service in 2006 as the NCTJ “adapted to a fast-changing multimedia industry”.

But trainee journalists sitting last month’s National Qualification in Journalism exams were once again called upon to cover the town and faced scenarios ranging from dognapping to shops selling alcohol to the underage.

Oxdown

The NCTJ made the move as part of its 70th anniversary celebrations, prompting past Oxdown Gazette ‘staff’ to come forward and share their memories on Twitter.

Phil McNulty, chief football writer at BBC Sport, added: “I covered a mass Town Council food poisoning outbreak at the Lord Mayor’s dinner there one year. Led to ‘traffic chaos’ in Oxdown centre.”

He added: “The most newsworthy town in England. Constant fund of stories – all superbly covered by the Oxdown Gazette.”

Dan Sharp, club journalist at the Wolverhampton Wanderers, described Oxdown as “the only town in England that could give Midsomer a run for its money”.

And University of Sheffield journalism trainer Lindsay Pantry commented: “But what else could have possibly happened in Oxdown, the place where no one would want to live?”

An NCTJ spokesperson commented: “It’s wonderful to see that so many journalists have fond memories of covering Oxdown during their training.

Candidates who sat their exams last month have received their results, which are now only published once a year as part of an annual report by the NCTJ.