JOURNALISM TODAY YOUR GATEWAY TO ‘A LIFE LESS ORDINARY’ In association with NCTJ Inside n Advice from star journalists n Directory of courses Sponsored by n How recent graduates got their breaks NCTJ ad press Gazette.qxp_Layout 1 12/05/2014 11:48 Page 1 NCTJ accredited courses – look for the kitemark of quality journalism training. We don’t sell the dream JOURNALISM TRAINING 2014 of a journalism career. Contents 4-5 Introduction to journalism training from 4 9 Kim Fletcher of the NCTJ and Press Gazette We accredit the reality. editor Dominic Ponsford 7-9 Sarah Sands, David Dinsmore, Steve Lamacq and Lorraine Candy on training with the NCTJ 10-11 Recent NCTJ graduates who have ‘made it’ share their stories 12-13 Ten pearls of wisdom for aspiring journalists 15-19 Complete directory of NCTJ journalism courses 21 Tips on how to fund your journalism training 22 Piers Morgan, Ian Hislop, Jon Snow and others on why journalism is the ‘best job in the world’ The National Council for the Training of 7 22 Journalists delivers the premier training scheme for journalists in the UK. SPONSORED FEATURE WHY CHOOSE CORNWALL COLLEGE’S NCTJ DIPLOMA? An NCTJ qualification equips students with the skills they need to become effective “Our trainees are covering the Premier League, the war in Syria and Eurovision, appearing in print, on our screens and journalists and photographers in a fast-changing multimedia industry. airwaves – so whether you’re 18 or 55, want to be a blogger or a foreign correspondent, we’re flexible enough – are you?” The majority of successful journalists working in print, broadca st, online and photojournalism are NCTJ trained and qualified. Reasons to study at Cornwall College: • More than 80% industry employment on completion • Teaching in small groups with one-to-one feedback • NCTJ accredited for more than two decades • First-rate equipment with anytime technician backing Major newspaper and broadcast employers say they prefer NCTJ qualified applicants. • Two Diploma options – fast-track and academic year • Great contacts for work experience • Taught by experienced industry professionals • Free and reduced fees available NCTJ accreditation is the hallmark of excellence for journalism courses. What our students say: NCTJ accredited courses are available at undergraduate and postgraduate degree “The tutors provided first-rate teaching, bringing the course to life with great passion and humour. The five months I spent in Cornwall were also the most fun of my academic level, as fast-track and academic year courses, and as part-time evening and life. Where else in Britain can you study journalism in the morning and then surf in the weekend courses. afternoon?” Stephen Adams Medical Correspondent Mail on Sunday “I found Mark Benattar to be a savvy mentor with heaps of useful anecdotes and hard news experience, while the thoroughness of the shorthand, law and writing modules gave me an edge over my peers when I took my first reporter’s job. The facilities and For more information, including a equipment were also top notch. In all, I recall my brief stint there as one of the happiest and formative of my journalistic career.” list of accredited courses, visit Murray Wardrop General news editor The Telegraph LOOK FOR THE KITEMARK OF www.nctj.com QUALITY JOURNALISM TRAINING www.pressgazette.co.uk Press Gazette 2014 l 3 JOURNALISM TRAINING 2014 In association with NCTJ JOURNALISM TRAINING 2014 Want to be a journalist? Don’t blag it, get You’re in the right place the right training Whether you want to talk truth to power or just meet celebs, you are going Dominic Ponsford that aren’t accredited by the NCTJ, by all to need proper training if you want to make it as a journalist is the editor of journalism news website means do your own research. But there are Press Gazette also many bad ones. At post-graduate level the options range If you want to be a journalist, a theoretical from a fast-track 20-week course in the core Journalism is a competitive industry in course in media or journalism studies NCTJ skills (which is the cheapest option) to which to get ahead, so if you are reading won’t qualify you to do the job. Journalism taking a fully-fledged MA. this supplement, well done – you have requires practical skills – particularly news Only you can decide what route will work With an NCTJ qualification, already given yourself the inside edge. writing and shorthand – and all NCTJ best for you. “you will feel confident that you It is possible to get a job in journalism courses provide these. This guide, which is sponsored by the can make a contribution to any without taking specialist training, but it is It used to be the case that a good general NCTJ, aims to provide an introduction to media organisation so much easier to get your foot in the door degree in say history or English, followed by the world of journalism that could save you ” if you have the right qualifications. a journalism postgraduate course was the a huge amount of time and effort. Essential journalism skills like shorthand, preferred route into the industry. Nowadays I would say this – but to keep up with media law and news writing can’t be busked journalists take many different routes in. the latest developments in the industry or blagged. You could opt to do a degree in journalism you could do a lot worse than read www. The NCTJ has been accrediting training that is accredited by the NCTJ, so includes pressgazette.co.uk every day. courses since 1951 and awards a qualification the practical skills you will need. Persistence, curiosity, a refusal to give that all editors know about and probably Or you might also want to consider taking up and a little writing ability are the key have themselves. So passing an NCTJ course a first degree in a subject that will come in attributes a journalist needs. should open doors for you. handy to you in your journalism career: So If you have those, together with NCTJ There are some good journalism courses maybe a language, law or computing. training, you will make it. Good luck! Kim Fletcher is chairman of the NCTJ and a former editorial director of the Telegraph Study Journalism at the University of Sunderland You’re reading this because you think you’d there is so much material around, people staff big news agencies and new websites. like to be a journalist? Is it because you’re tend to go to sites they feel they can In short, they find jobs in all outlets. You We offer a range of high quality specialist inquisitive and gossipy, you like finding out trust when they are looking for news and don’t have to pass a qualification to work what’s going on and telling people all about information – sites produced by people as a journalist, but when you are looking for postgraduate and undergraduate degrees it? Or you want to talk truth to power and who believe in some basic premises of work, you will find it is easier to get people delivered by industry professionals and leading protect our democracy by exposing the good reporting. Second, if you want to to take you seriously when you have. academics in exceptional facilities wickedness of those in power over us? No? get paid for what you do, you need to find On the following pages you will find a wide You just want to meet celebrities and go to someone to employ you or buy your work range of NCTJ courses and qualifications, Each course is accredited by the NCTJ fashion parties and get paid to be at big on a freelance basis. The people with the including one that could be right for you. (National Council for the Training of Journalists) sports events? That’s fine too. If you answer money – newspapers, radio and TV stations, We accredit courses at colleges, universities “yes” to any of the above, there’s a place websites, new entertainment and content at undergraduate and postgraduate level MA Journalism for you somewhere in the media. Here’s companies – tend to be more impressed by and independent providers. Other options MA Magazine Journalism a job that can be demanding, exciting, people who can show they know what they include apprenticeships and distance MA Sports Journalism entertaining, unpredictable, dangerous, are doing. learning. There are courses for school mischievous, fulfilling and – at its most That’s why it’s worth looking into leavers, for undergraduates and graduates, BA (Hons) Journalism serious – important. the National Council for the Training of for those looking to make a career change. BA (Hons) Fashion Journalism The truth is you can call yourself a Journalists and the qualifications we offer. A course accredited by the NCTJ will teach BA (Hons) Magazine Journalism journalist tomorrow. You can have an Trainee journalists who attend the courses you practical skills, together with the opinion or go and find stuff out and create we accredit and take our examinations are knowledge you need in such areas as media BA (Hons) Sport Journalism a blog or put some video up on YouTube. able to show they have the practical skills law, government and ethics. BA (Hons) Broadcast Journalism also BJTC accredited You might even find some people who to work in all areas of the industry, on every What else do you need? Passion, drive want to look at it. There are millions of platform created in this new world of digital and a real belief in what you are doing.