A guide encouraging schoolchildren and job seekers to consider a career in journalism is being distributed across the UK.

The latest edition of the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ careers guide is being sent out to more than 3,700 secondary schools and colleges across the UK, as well as job centres.

The guide features advice from reporters in a range of roles about how to make a successful start on the journalism career path, as well as easy-to-navigate listings of all NCTJ-accredited courses.

Other features include a glossary of journalism terms, a look at how the LGBTQ+ Journalism Network is a platform for change and an examination of using TikTok as a journalist.

Natalie Coleman, the NCTJ’s quality and standards manager, said: “We are sending out this guide to schools and colleges across the UK to let students know about the exciting prospect of studying on an NCTJ-accredited course, which will open the doors to their chosen journalism career.

“The guide features a whole host of NCTJ alumni and students, all of whom have come from a range of backgrounds and are setting out on the path to success in a whole range of careers in the media sector.

“They’ve done this because they have achieved – or are working towards achieving – the industry-standard Diploma in Journalism.

“Employability is a key feature of all our courses, which is why we want students to choose the right journalism course, which will give them both the cutting-edge and fundamental skills to succeed in the newsroom.”

The guide is sponsored by the Financial Times.

FT deputy managing editor of the Financial Times Abby Scott said: “Once you start out on your journalism path, you may be offered work experience, internships and fellowships.

“Use these opportunities to shape your career; whether it is the connections you make, perfecting your fact-checking, formatting your intros, practising your shorthand, learning a new publishing software, learning search engine optimisation or getting a byline.

“The Financial Times and the National Council for the Training of Journalists want students from all backgrounds regardless of ethnicity, religion and sexuality to receive gold-standard journalism training and feel welcome in our newsrooms.”