National Council for the Training of Journalists Annual Report 2005-2006 Contents Contents 2 Contents 3 Progress and priorities 4 Chairman’s report 5 Chief executive’s report 6 Changing times 7 Modern journalism qualifications 8 Preliminary certificate exams 9 National Certificate Examinations 10 NCE results autumn 2005 11 NCE results spring 2006 12 Accredited courses 13 Journalism Diversity Fund 14 Short courses and distance learning 15 Business review 16 Who’s who 2 Progress and priorities priorities and Progress Introduction Some of the key results for 2006: The NCTJ is recognised inside and outside the media industry as • 1,326 students attended NCTJ accredited courses at 36 the primary body for developing qualified journalists. During the centres and sat the preliminary examinations year, the organisation has continued its mission to provide a world-class education and training scheme that develops current • 3,415 shorthand examinations were sat by candidates at st and future journalists for the demands of the 21 century. speeds from 80-130wpm Our objectives are to: • 510 reporters and 25 press photographers and photo journalists sat the national certificate examinations • accredit education and training providers and recognise centres of excellence • 428 reporters and 15 photographers were registered • offer outstanding qualifications which guarantee the skills • Donations to the new Journalism Diversity Fund totalled needed in the workplace £142,885 • foster continuing professional development for journalists • 21 short courses were run during the year and there were throughout their careers 16 in-house training courses. • provide services and products that are demonstrably Priorities for the year ahead: helpful and relevant to our customers. The five priorities identified for action in 2007 are to: • respond to the convergence of journalism skills and the media • implement our updated accreditation scheme • communicate effectively with our customers and stake- holders • ensure the continuous improvement and development of our qualifications • promote careers in journalism and take action to achieve greater diversity in the newsroom. 3 Chairman’s report report Chairman’s After a huge amount of hard work by Joanne Butcher and her team, it was terrific news to learn that we had gained recognition from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). The move will help secure the future funding of NCTJ qualifications, which will be accredited to the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). It was a complicated process and we had to meet exacting criteria and standards. Our success in doing so means employers and training providers can be sure of the high quality of all that we do. To cap a good year, we moved into our own home, a converted granary in Newport, near Saffron Walden in Essex. I was delighted by the enthusiasm of members of staff, most of whom elected to make the move from our rented accommodation in Harlow. Mark Austin of ITV News, an NCTJ proficiency certificate holder, kindly opened the building for us. Everyone who has visited The New Granary has been impressed. It’s been another busy year, with developments at the NCTJ There is a lot more going on behind the scenes, as we keep symbolised by three key events: the end of Oxdown, that abreast of developments in the media while maintaining the high fictitious town familiar to generations of journalists from their standards upon which the NCTJ has built its reputation. NCTJ examinations; the achievement of recognition as a professional awarding body by the Qualifications and Curriculum As ever we are grateful not only for the enthusiasm, hard work Authority (QCA); and our move to new headquarters in Essex. and vision of the staff, but for the huge amount of help, advice and support that we gain from all areas of journalism and It was the first of those that gained the most coverage in the journalism training. industry, the second that has the most important implications for our future and the third that has given the greatest pleasure to We say farewell this year to four long-serving Directors of the staff. NCTJ: Bob Norris, Jim Raeburn, John Ryan and Bernie Saunders. Oxdown was created in the 1970’s as a fictitious community served by the weekly Oxdown Gazette. It was a newsworthy We will miss them all and hope that they will keep in touch as we place and every journalist I know claims to remember the big move to our next stage of development. story that happened the year he or she took the exam. But we felt the town and its paper gave too narrow a focus on a media Kim Fletcher world that is broadening day by day. Chairman 4 Chief executive’s report report executive’s Chief Like the media industry we serve, 2006 has been another year of Despite challenging times, most of us agree that there has never change and renewal for the NCTJ. been a better time to be a journalist. The media marketplace is offering an even wider range of opportunities. A new home, formal recognition as a professional awarding body and the most radical changes to our qualifications for many This sharpens the focus on our role and makes the demand for years, have made this a momentous year in our history. sound careers advice, top quality training, fair and transparent standards and professional vocational qualifications even Just like the media industry is adapting to the rapidly changing greater. digital news industry, we have been working hard to modify our qualifications to embrace these changes. We are developing a It also makes working together even more important and we much more flexible and broader range of qualifications that have made a commitment to collaborate with the Broadcast integrate a wider range of skills and media platforms. Journalism Training Council on joint initiatives in the year ahead. Our old newspaper journalism and handout exams are being We are indebted to everyone who shares our passion for high replaced by news writing and a real-world reporting portfolio. We standards of journalism. We appreciate those who work with us recognise that these changes are a major challenge to introduce to grow and develop our future new journalists, and train and for some of our centres; the old exams have been the routine for retrain our journalists to serve the demands of our audiences and so many years. However, I am delighted that so many centres communities. We look forward to another exciting year ahead. have embraced the change and more than 70 per cent are already offering the new exam and portfolio during this Joanne Butcher transitional year. Chief Executive We have introduced a new subbing qualification and again, I am heartened that this has been so well received by our centres as well as by the industry. The subbing pathway will soon be joined by certificates in on-line, video and sports journalism. And there’s even more going on behind the scenes. We have been listening, learning and changing. We have been modernising our operations and almost everything we do. We have a great responsibility to all our customers and stakeholders – employers, journalists, trainees, students and parents – to ensure we provide world-class qualifications and training opportunities. With all this progress under our belt this year we are well placed for further progress in 2007. We will be concentrating our efforts on convergence, collaborative working, accreditation, communications, qualifications, careers and diversity. 5 Changing times times Changing In June 2006, the NCTJ officially moved to its new premises in Newport, Saffron Walden ending a 14-year relationship with the Latton Bush Centre, Harlow. The relocation was a milestone in the NCTJ’s history and places the organisation in a strong position for further growth and development. Mark Austin, a former NCTJ student from Highbury College and now a recognised broadcaster, officially opened the building at an event attended by a wide variety of people within the journalism training industry. Along with this physical move, the NCTJ rebranded and said goodbye to the green logo, introducing a new garnet shade as its corporate colour. The new logo has brought with it a fresh and modern feel, and by working with marketing communications agency Vivado , the NCTJ has developed a professional and contemporary new look. An important focus in 2006 has been improving communications. Laura Garbas, communications manager, has been working with staff and stakeholders to develop a new strategy. This is already reaping rewards. The new NCTJ website has proved more easy to navigate and more accessible for our customers. A new monthly enewsletter is sent out on the first Friday of each month to editors and centres alike, advising them of news, events and developments at the NCTJ. A new database is currently being developed to make contacting our audiences much easier. A variety of workshops and seminars take place throughout the year. Kim Fletcher, Joanne Butcher and Mark Austin at the opening of the NCTJ headquarters in Newport, Essex. 6 Modern journalism qualifications qualifications journalism Modern NEWS WRITING AND PORTFOLIO SUBBING As part of our development strategy to modernise and update the Trainee reporters now have the opportunity to broaden their skills structure and content of our qualifications, the NCTJ has base and improve their employability by opting to take an NCTJ launched its new News Writing examination and Portfolio which preliminary certificate examination in sub-editing. are replacing the Newspaper Journalism and Handout examinations. The qualification has been introduced as an optional certificate to be offered by accredited course providers as a bolt-on subject to After wide consultation with editors, trainers and trainees, these the reporter’s certificates. new assessments were developed to ensure journalists’ essential core skills are delivered including practical ‘real-world’ Passing an additional certificate in subbing will improve reporting.