College chiefs have pulled the plug on National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) courses which have been running for 60 years

Officials at the City of Portsmouth College have put the shock decision down to a “slow but steady decline in student interest” in their courses.

As well as being a blow to the media industry, it is understood the move will result in the loss of four jobs.

It is understood the 28-week NCTJ diploma newspaper journalism has been axed along with an apprenticeship programme.

The move brings to a halt Portsmouth’s conveyor belt of journalistic talent with the college laying claim to having “trained some of the country’s finest journalists.”

Most recently, Newsquest’s head of editorial AI, Jody Doherty-Cove, pictured, completed the apprenticeship course in Portsmouth.

National World publishing editor Mark Waldron, who is also editor in chief of Portsmouth daily The News and other group titles, also undertook the NCTJ pre-entry journalism course in the 1980s.

Famous alumni include the likes of television presenters John Pienaar and Mark Austin who followed NCTJ courses in the city where they took place at Highbury College before a merger saw the creation of the City of Portsmouth College in 2021

In a statement issued to HTFP, Matt Phelps, the college’s deputy CEO curriculum, said: “Our Highbury Campus has a long and proud heritage of journalism training spanning six decades. During that time we have trained some of the country’s finest journalists.

“The decision to end training was certainly not taken lightly but reflects the changing face of the industry which has sadly resulted in a slow but steady decline in student interest.”

He added: “We are of course committed to supporting all students and apprentices currently on courses through to completion.

“The very small number of new applicants for this September will receive the appropriate careers, information, advice and guidance from our specialist team to support them with their next steps.

“Should there be a resurgence in interest in future years we will of course look at reintroducing journalism studies but at this stage it’s simply not viable.”

The NCTJ has been contacted for comment.