The National Council for the Training of Journalists has appointed a new chair of the body which oversees course accreditations.

Michelle Johnson, pictured, has been named as the chair of the training organisation’s accreditation board.

A member of the board since November 2021, Michelle succeeds Abbie Scott, director of operations at the Financial Times, who held the position from July 2019 to July 2023.

Michelle has 15 years’ experience in magazine journalism and is editor-in-chief of luxury lifestyle magazine Tempus and editorial director of creative agency, Vantage Media.

She said: “I am so pleased to get started as the chair of the NCTJ’s accreditation board.

“It is a pleasure to work alongside the other members of the board, who are all just as passionate as me about upholding the high standard of NCTJ-accredited courses.

“NCTJ qualifications are always evolving to remain relevant in our industry and our accredited courses are key to delivering that quality training to the next generation of journalists.”

The purpose of the board is to plan the NCTJ’s accreditation strategy, providing guidance, advice and oversight of the accreditation performance standards.

Other board members include Lisa Bradley, deputy head of the School of Journalism, Media and Communication, University of Sheffield, Maria Breslin, editor of the Liverpool Echo, and Ian Reeves, head of the Centre for Journalism, University of Kent.