National Council for the Training of Journalists Annual Report 2008-2009 Contents 3 Vital statistics 4 Chairman’s report 5 Chief Executive’s review 6-8 Accreditation 9 Student Council 10-11 Journalism Diversity Fund 12-13 Qualifications development 14-16 The Certificate in Journalism 17-19 National Certificate Examination 20-21 Awards for Excellence in Journalism 22 Communications 23 Journalism Skills Conference 24 Business and finance review 25 Who’s who 2 National Council for the Training of Journalists Vital statistics A total of 17,889 NCTJ exams were run throughout 2008-9 These comprised: 10,609 preliminary exams (excluding shorthand) run on course 1,014 national exam sittings, and 4,424 shorthand exam sittings The total number of NCE exams run was 1,842 1,780 students attended one of 68 accredited courses at 40 approved centres and sat the preliminary Certificate in Journalism exams 320 of these achieved the gold standard, passing all exams while on course 522 candidates sat these exams on the two nationals dates 565 trainees sat the National Certificate Examination – 522 reporters, 28 photographers and 15 sub-editors 303 trainees achieved the gold standard of passing their NCE – 277 reporters, 14 photographers and 12 sub-editors Registrations consisted of 211 reporters, 5 sub-editors and 14 photographers 36 scheduled and in-house short training courses were run during the year Annual Report 2008-2009 3 Chairman’s report Has there ever been such gloom around online world, everyone can publish and call the media industry? Newspapers, radio him or herself a journalist. Amid that stations and television channels fight over plethora of words, what differentiates the declining audiences and falling advertising; diligent reporter from the blogger who no-one’s found a real commercial model recycles gossip? How do we know what we for the internet; even the BBC begins to can trust? trim its costs. Who’d embark now on a career in journalism? In the absence of special knowledge about the writers we look to brands – journalistic More people than ever, it seems, as the organisations that have built their number of training centres, colleges and reputations on accuracy and reliability. universities offering journalism courses They, in turn, look to qualities in the people continues to rise. they recruit, qualities of the kind demanded by the NCTJ. The next generation is attracted, I think, by the things that have always attracted It’s tough finding a job in the media, but it's people to journalism – the excitement of a little less tough when you have a stories, the opportunities to inform and qualification to offer. And a tough entertain, the potential for mischief. qualification at that: for many students and trainees the NCTJ examination is the first It’s a guiding spirit that prevails. We see it test of their lives that forces them to in Peter Preston, the Observer media contemplate failure. columnist and former Guardian editor, who wishes he were starting his career all over And what of moving with the times? We again, so excited is he by the effects of the are nothing as an organisation if we do not digital revolution. serve the real needs of a changing industry. The industry wants people who can work in We see it in the teachers and trainers and print and online, who can edit audio or lecturers who bring real passion – and often make a video, write a feature for a paper or unpaid time – to their work with students a news update for a website. and trainees and with the NCTJ. The old world differentiated between We see it in students and trainees, in their newspapers, magazines and broadcast. The enthusiasm, in their resourcefulness and, new world sees them merging into one. yes, in their cunning – all qualities Employers of this new world need trainees embodied in the work they produce. We with the skills for all media. We believe read media commentators who tell us the they expect to find them trained by a single local press is dying: we read the local press organisation. and see that there is great life in it. This is the challenge in which the NCTJ So many things to do with the technologies board, the chief executive and her hard- of journalism have changed, so much to do working team have invested considerable with that spirit of journalism has remained effort in the last year. This is the challenge the same. that the NCTJ must meet in the next year. The task of the NCTJ is to stay with the Kim Fletcher, Chairman spirit and move with the times. In the 4 National Council for the Training of Journalists Chief Executive’s review It was only just a year ago that the sustained of trainees and with fewer jobs in journalism to be adjusted and adapted, but it will always period of economic certainty and relative we have an even greater responsibility to be synonymous with quality and excellence, stability had come to an end. Over the last accredit the reality and insist on the best. and this is what we strive for in everything 12 months we have been working in a The NCTJ is proud to publish examination we do. dramatically different economic landscape results tables and to give public recognition and journalism has waded deeper into to those who achieve excellence. The debate about what the core skills should uncharted territory. be for multimedia journalists in this digital We are working to develop the firm age will intensify this year. We will finalise Against this challenging backdrop the NCTJ foundations of the NCTJ into a strong and our proposals for the most radical restructure has maintained and developed the industry’s well-equipped multimedia organisation of our preliminary exams in recent times and highly successful training scheme and, geared up to help truly professional will set up a new board to work to develop a crucially, we are in the midst of a new and multimedia journalists meet the challenges multimedia accreditation strategy. far-reaching change programme. ahead. We are looking forward with confidence to 17,889 examinations were run last year. The NCTJ brand is the long-established and the future and are rising to the challenge. We Record numbers of trainees sat and passed respected benchmark of excellence that is can bring all our experience and commitment the National Certificate Examination, the valued by all sectors of the media. Those with to bear to help to maintain high quality qualification for professional journalists. NCTJ qualifications have been able to standards of training and qualifications. More student journalists than ever before develop their careers in newspapers, passed their preliminary Certificate in magazines, radio and television. Our new In all that NCTJ achieves we depend on the Journalism exams while on accredited strategy is a response to widespread media hard work and enthusiasm of our supporters courses. We have seen an increase in the convergence and, just as newsrooms have – directors, staff, employers, editors, popularity of shorthand and a call to changed, so has the NCTJ. examiners, trainers and our many friends and concentrate on the fundamentals of good followers. There are so many talented people journalism. We can’t really predict the likely twists and involved in our work and I would like to thank turns of the coming year but we do know each and every one for all that you do and Over the last year we have sharpened our that it is critically important for the future of especially the volunteers who give so focus on the quality rather than expansion of quality journalism that the NCTJ continues to generously of their time in so many ways. the NCTJ’s accreditation scheme. We have insist on the industry’s exacting gold seen a dramatic downturn in the recruitment standard. Of course, this standard will need Joanne Butcher, Chief Executive Annual Report 2008-2009 5 Accreditation The NCTJ works in partnership with 2. Encourage the provision of courses that training and education providers to train will equip students to meet the demands of and develop the journalists of tomorrow. the 21st century newsroom environment The NCTJ aims to accredit NCTJ accreditation is the hallmark of with its emphasis on multimedia platforms courses: excellence in journalism training, providing and skills convergence, and where the a world-class standard that is recognised regulations governing the behaviour and • that are promoted clearly and and sought-after throughout the media practice of journalists will remain under compellingly to students seeking a industry. constant review. vocational qualification that is widely recognised and highly valued by Achieving accreditation makes courses more 3. Work in partnership with course journalism employers appealing to students looking for a career in providers to maintain and update an journalism, and makes students more • where students are selected on the accreditation system that is both focused on appealing to employers looking for multi- basis of ability and the potential to quality, “real world” journalism skills and succeed in a career in journalism skilled recruits who know the fundamentals flexible enough to accommodate creative, of journalism and can operate effectively in added-value initiatives. • that are committed to fostering a a busy newsroom environment. safe, supportive and inclusive learning The NCTJ is confident that the majority of environment regardless of class, But if these benefits are to be meaningful, it gender, ethnic origin, age, sexual universities, colleges and commercial and is vital that students and employers are not orientation, disability, or particular in-house training providers agree that our short-changed, and that an NCTJ-accredited needs course delivers vocational training to a high accreditation process, while challenging, is standard that everyone who cares about the fair, reasonable, straightforward and • where the NCTJ syllabus is delivered quality of journalism understands and professional.