National Council for the Training of Journalists Annual Report 2007-2008 Contents 2 Contents 3 Vital statistics 4 From the chairman 5 From the chief executive 6 - 7 Qualifications development 8 - 9 Accreditation 10 - 11 Journalism Diversity Fund 12 - 14 Preliminary certificates in journalism 15 - 17 National Certificate Examination 18 - 19 Awards for Excellence in Journalism 20 Student Council 21 Communications and events 22 Business and finance review 23 Working for the NCTJ The NCTJ’s values Accessible and responsive to our customers High profile, respected and influential Strong sustainable growth and development Best use of resources Upholding high and relevant standards Effective leadership, management and governance 2 National Council for the Training of Journalists Vital statistics A total of 14,580 NCTJ exams were sat throughout 2007-8 These comprised: 8,017 preliminary exams (excluding shorthand) sat on course, 1,234 national exam sittings, and, 4,103 shorthand exam sittings The total number of NCE exams sat was 1,226 1,721 students attended one of 69 accredited courses at 42 approved centres and sat the preliminary Certificate in Journalism exams 254 of these achieved the gold standard, passing all exams while on course 651 candidates sat these exams on the two nationals dates 446 trainees sat the National Certificate Examination - 430 reporters, 15 photographers and 1 sub-editor 258 trainees achieved the gold standard of passing their NCE – 244 reporters, 13 photographers and 1 sub-editor Registrations consisted of 590 reporters, 23 sub-editors and 20 photographers 44 scheduled and in-house short training courses were run during the year Annual Report 2007-2008 3 From the chairman The media landscape changes a pretty good place to start. fast, but the NCTJ maintains a simple proposition. It applies to So that’s the bedrock. Around it we the newest website and to the build what students, teachers and longest established newspaper. employers want: web skills, video We are here to provide “a world- skills, subbing skills. Joanne class education and training Butcher and her team have been system that develops current out around the country, talking to and future journalists for the everyone who has a stake in demands of the 21st century”. journalism, encouraging all to have a say. It’s been a pleasure to see We judge everything we do against so many attending the workshops that aspiration. Over the past 12 and conferences they have months we have done much to organised. develop the NCTJ syllabus in line with the demands of the new world. As ever, we are indebted to those But we have done so while who give up their time so willingly. maintaining the fundamental The fact that so many have come principle that the craft of to those sessions is a powerful journalism, on whichever platform it antidote to the worries besetting the Optimistic: Kim Fletcher is practised, demands high industry. While a depression settles standards. over the media, with falling readerships, sinking revenues and “The craft of This is not always a popular worries about jobs, it’s good to see mission. Some students’ encounter enthusiasm for journalism burning journalism, on with the NCTJ is the first occasion as brightly as ever. whichever platform it on which an examiner suggests that their work is not good enough. Who is right – the pessimists, who is practised, demands We hope they get over it, for we say the great days of journalism are high standards.” continue to believe that the over – or the optimists, who learning and hard work required to promise they are only just pass NCTJ examinations provide beginning? Let’s come down with real evidence of journalistic ability. the optimists, for it’s immensely cheering to meet distinguished As media multiply, readers, viewers journalists heading for retirement and listeners need to be able to tell who wish they could have their time the good from the bad, the again in the new world, with all the accurate from the invented. The new opportunities it offers. form of delivery is different, but the underlying journalistic rules are the There are certainly lots of new same. That is why employers, outlets. Now we’ve just – just? - got confronted with a sack of to find a way to make them pay. applications from aspiring Kim Fletcher, reporters, find NCTJ qualifications NCTJ Chairman 4 National Council for the Training of Journalists From the chief executive This has been a year of progress world of journalism is more reflec - and performance for the NCTJ tive of today’s multi-cultural society. and we are moving forward with even greater energy and enthusi - Just like our successful inaugural asm thanks to all those who work awards for excellence in journalism, with us and share our belief that we hope our new event – the Jour - high quality journalism training nalism Skills Conference – will fea - and skills really matter. ture regularly in our calendar in the future. This is a unique opportunity The media operate in a tough, com - to take a strategic view of the issues petitive marketplace and like every - associated with educating and train - one else we must respond and ing journalists as well as the chance adapt to changing times at a faster to celebrate the achievements of pace than ever before. Our efforts those involved in journalism training. to deliver the premier training scheme for journalists in the UK The NCTJ is committed to continu - have not just continued but acceler - ously improving its effectiveness, ef - ated as we work to improve our ficiency and value for money – so game. important to high performing and forward looking organisations. In many ways it has been a bumper ‘Bumper year’: Joanne Butcher year with record numbers of regis - We are determined to retain our trations – 633 trainees – and exami - focus and purpose but demand for nations – 14,580 – and far-reaching our services is not restricted to our “Our efforts to deliver changes to our structure and qualifi - current markets. In the year ahead the premier training cations. we will be exploring the potential to diversify and share the special scheme for journalists Our new Journalism Qualifications knowledge and expertise we can in the UK have not Board will oversee the development bring to the table. of converging journalism qualifica - just continued but tions. The formation of the Student In order to realise our full potential accelerated.” Council, to ensure all our stakehold - and to achieve our ambitions we ers are involved directly in our de - need many skills. In particular in the liberations and decision-making, year ahead we will be forging the was one of the highlights of the best partnerships for the future. year. The NCTJ is confident about this fu - Multi-platform journalism skills have ture and the opportunities. We are been integrated into all our pro - full of ambition to further establish grammes of study. Our qualification the NCTJ in its pre-eminent position for magazine journalists has been as the leading organisation for high, revamped in response to the needs exacting and relevant standards for of periodical publishers. Our new training and qualifying journalists. preliminary qualification for sports We have a strong brand, great journalists is available and will soon products and services, and the fan - be followed by an NCE. tastic support of people who are committed to the future of good The future of the Journalism Diver - journalism. Providing we continue sity Fund has been secured by the to demonstrate our effectiveness Newspaper Licensing Agency’s and manage our resources carefully commitment to a minimum of our reputation and influence will £100,000 a year for the next three continue to grow. years. There is much more work to Joanne Butcher, be done before the competitive NCTJ Chief Executive Annual Report 2007-2008 5 Qualifications development Convergence To meet the increasing need for multi-skilled journalists, the content of all NCTJ qualifications has been revised and updated this year to reflect the skills used in multi-media newsrooms nationwide. This follows the previous year’s revamp of the reporters’ NCE which required trainees to show they could operate as effective multi- platform journalists. Now all student reporters, sub- Still life: video stills editors and magazine journalists on from the NCTJ’s accredited courses as well as direct new Video journalism for entrants in the newsroom are being Websites DVD trained to write for the web. Their online journalism skills, knowledge and revise the content of the pictures for eight different and understanding are being tested magazine syllabus, a range of new categories and one video news in their NCTJ exams and portfolios. assessments have been introduced. report. Online journalism, including writing There is a features portfolio where The skill of video reporting is being for the web and video journalism, candidates must showcase six tested as part of the NCE for press has been integrated into the two features and can include video photographers and photo- core journalism assessments at reports. The magazine sub-editing journalists in November 2008. preliminary level - news writing and exam has been updated and now Candidates will produce a three to portfolio. follows the same programme of five-minute video package study as the reporters’ sub-editing including a recorded interview on a Video journalism has been included exam. The new business of storyline set by the NCTJ in the portfolio as an optional magazines option equips photography exam board. The element for the year ahead and candidates with a thorough audio, visual and overall package video reports can be included in knowledge of the magazine industry will be assessed and video place of two written stories.