The proportion of trainees qualifying as senior reporters has fallen for the second consecutive year, the National Council for the Training of Journalists has reported.

The NCTJ has announced 47 candidates were successful in achieving the National Qualification in Journalism over the course of three sittings in the 2021-22 academic year, representing a pass rate of 55pc.

This compares with a 60pc pass rate among those who took the examinations during 2020-21, and 70pc in the academic year prior to that.

Last year, a total of 56 candidates qualified, while the number of new seniors was 59 in 2019-20.

A total of 91 candidates sat NQJ exams over the three sittings in November 2021, March 2022 and July 2022, with 86 taking the full qualification and five sitting one or more of the assessments.

A total of 69 candidates sat the media law and ethics in practice exam, with 54 passes representing a 78pc pass rate.

In the practical journalism skills exam, 49 candidates out of 80, or 61pc, passed, while all 56 candidates completing the e-logbook assessment were successful.

Nineteen candidates passed the NQJ with distinction, while 18 passed with merit.

Chief examiner Andy Martin congratulated the new seniors in his accompanying report, describing it as “no mean feat given the extraordinary challenges of the past two years and the ongoing challenges in the industry.”

He wrote: “I know many of the successful candidates on a professional level across a number of publishing groups and am fully aware of the hard work and dedication that has gone into passing the qualification.

“The NQJ is as rigorous and relevant as ever in a media environment changing faster than ever.

“I would also like to offer my encouragement to those who haven’t quite made it over the line. You will – and I look forward to that next time.”

In the examiners’ report, the issue of time management among some candidates during assessments was raised.

Crispin Clark, chief moderator for the media law and ethics in practice section, said: “As timing again appears to be an issue with some candidates, it might be appropriate to go back to basics when tackling an examination.

“How much time do I have? How many marks is each answer worth? Section four probably needs 30 minutes, leaving candidates 90 minutes for the first three sections.”

Faith Lee, chief moderator for the big news story and community journalism elements of the practical journalism skills exam, added: “Some candidates struggled in this exam to get comprehensive stories which would give readers all the information they needed to understand the situation.

“Several candidates failed to answer one or more questions which cost marks – future candidates are urged to plan their exam timing carefully to ensure they are able to answer all the questions.”

The full list of those who passed the NQJ in 2019-20 is as follows:

Catriona Aitken, Andover Advertiser
Danielle Andrews, Sheffield Star
Amy Austin, Financial Times
Abigail Beaney, The Bolton News
Elizabeth Birt, South Wales Argus
Rosie Boon, Peterborough Telegraph
Caislin Boyle, Newham Recorder
Gemma Bradley, PA Media
Liane Castle, Kent Messenger
Rebecca Curry, Hexham Courant
Alexander Davis , North Devon Live
Naomi De Souza, Coventry Live
Timothy Edgley, Southampton Daily Echo
Alec Evans, Surrey Live
Gemma Gibson, Salisbury Journal
Joseph Hadden, Diss Express
Georgia Harland, Henley Standard
Laura Harman, Woman & Home
Joe Harrigan, The Bolton News
Sarah Hussain, Eastern Daily Press
Alex Irwin-Hunt, Financial Times
Harry Jamshidian, Western Telegraph
Lucy Jenkinson, Whitehaven News
Ben Jones, Peterborough Telegraph
Catherine Kennedy, New Civil Engineer
Jade Kidd, Baylis Media
Lisa Letcher, Cornwall Live
Maisie Lillywhite, Bristol Live
Emma Loffhagen, Evening Standard
Deborah Luxon, Cambridge News
Logan MacLeod, Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Aaron McMillan, Fakenham & Wells Times
Alima Nadeem, The Bolton News
Eleanor Ovens, The Mail, Cumbria
Louise Perrin, The Scarborough News
Patrick Pester, Live Science
Thomas Reeves, KentOnline
Andrew Revill, Shropshire Star
Imogen Isabella Roberta Palmer, Muddy Stilettos
Alana Roberts, Sheffield Star
Claire Schofield, National World
Lewis Smith, Wales Online
Emily Thomson, Eastern Daily Press
Emily Turner, The News, Portsmouth
Lyell Tweed, The Bolton News
James Vukmirovic, Shropshire Star
Carrington Walker, Weston Mercury