AddThis SmartLayers

January 2022 News

Publisher promotes niche specialist to senior editor role

Predecessor takes up regional news website post

Regional editor hits out at ‘self-serving pigs’ in Downing Street

News chief runs historically Tory-supporting daily

Newspaper issues cash plea in bid to maintain free news service

Title has had to “dig deep into limited reserves” due to pandemic

Journalist who held senior roles at three dailies dies aged 61

Editorial chief was “great presence in the newsroom”

Ex-international footballer ‘honoured’ to join daily as columnist

Former England player hails “brilliant local football paper”

Reporter shares how coronavirus left him ‘close to death’

Family were told to “say goodbyes” to journalist

Publisher prints front page QR codes in bid to promote video content

Project aims to “boost brand and journalist authority”

Editor and newsdesk boss quit jobs to launch new local title

Two other journalists also on launch team

Ad manager loses job with publisher after soliciting prostitute

Councillor pleads guilty after “moment of madness”

Queen honours editor who spent 46 years with same newspaper

Former news chief retired in 2020

Daily turns front page black to mark sombre pandemic milestone

Faces of city’s Covid victims feature on cover

Weekly moves to new office within Christian college

Portrait of newspaper’s founder moved to museum as a result

Business journalism awards launched with focus on UK’s regions

Regional journalists encouraged to enter

‘Expect more new launches and offices closures in 2022′, journalists told

Researchers make industry predictions for year ahead

IPSO raps weekly for failing to apologise to advertiser

Story reported on car dealer of same name

‘Brilliant’ editor who covered terror attacks and serial killings dies aged 77

Tributes paid to “hard-working and thorough” journalist

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.