Page 1 Contents 2 Achievements and values 3 Chairman’s report 4 Chief executive’s review 5 - 6 Qualifications development 7 - 8 NCE results 2006-2007 9 - 10 Success stories 11 - 12 Accreditation 13 Communication 14 Events and distance learning 15 Journalism Diversity Fund 16 Business and finance 17 The year ahead 18 Who’s who Contents 1 Key facts & figures for 2006-2007 1,611 students attended NCTJ accredited courses at 41 approved centres and sat the preliminary certificate in journalism examinations 3,131 shorthand examinations were sat by candidates at speeds from 60wpm - 120wpm 699 candidates sat preliminary certificate in journalism examinations on the national dates 538 reporters and 18 press photographers and photo-journalists sat the National Certificate Examinations 384 reporters and 25 photographers were registered Donations in the second year of the Journalism Diversity Fund totalled £110,000 22 short courses were run during the year and there were 10 in-house training courses The NCTJ’s distinctive characteristics – our values – are: • accessible and responsive to customers NCTJ values • strong sustainable growth and development • effective leadership, management and governance • best use of resources • high profile, respected and influential • upholding high and relevant standards Achievements and values 2 Those in the newspaper industry during the first Some local evening papers have abandoned the effort dotcom boom, at the turn of the century, will remember to print news from the morning later on in the how the internet threatened to change everything. Most afternoon, instead using the web to fulfil promises of of us had already developed websites: once we up-to-date news coverage. realised we had to do more than merely dump the contents of the paper on the site each day, we began Is it all good? No. It would be surprising if website auditioning staff to anchor lunch time news bulletins footage matched the standards of professional and wondered whether reporters could carry video television footage. The quality of some of the video recorders with their notebooks. appearing on newspaper sites up and down the country is poor. There are signs that reporters are Then the dotcom bubble burst and we abandoned being stretched beyond their capabilities. When they sexist plans to turn pretty reporters into news are expected both to write and film a news report and presenters. Most newspaper companies stopped to provide commentary on it, something has to give. spending money on digital projects and many managers looked relieved and said they had always In the short term, this is probably how it has to be. known the internet would be a passing fad. Newspaper companies that sit back and refuse to take part in the internet will find themselves left behind. If, Seven years later we know better. The internet did not as a consequence, some of the video on offer seems Unless we maintain high standards, newspapers will die. Everyone now sees that it offers something a to be the kind of footage that “You’ve Been Framed” lose the very qualities that currently give their “brand” printed newspaper does not. would reject out of hand, so be it. Some things papers such value on the internet. People come to them are trying now may not last and in a year’s time we because they can believe what they publish. If that Everyone sees too that – and here the choice of word may look back at the wilder initiatives and smile at the trust evaporates, they will be no better off than every depends on the morale of the observer – it presents a thought that they ever seemed a good idea. other site fighting to gain an audience. threat, a challenge or an opportunity to the newspaper industry. The task is to find a way to grab some of the But we can’t use economic necessity for change as an Naturally this poses a challenge for the NCTJ. With old action, which is why the last year has seen a frantic excuse for bad journalism for long. Media companies distinctions between print and broadcast breaking scramble to revolutionise the way we work. have professional reputations to maintain, whether they down fast and internet websites demanding a mix of are regulated by statutory authorities – in the case of skills, we are working hard to see that trainees are As a result, everything we dreamed of in the last radio and television – or by an industry body. There are properly equipped for the new world. But for the long century is coming to pass. Everyone is eager to use three dangers in what is going on. The first is that term good of the industry, we must never lose sight of the newspaper “brand” to establish an online presence. some of what we are doing looks very amateurish. The the basic tenets of journalism, of the importance of Sites update news around the clock. Reporters travel second is that the rush to import video and traditional values such as accuracy and of the reality with camcorders. Newspapers produce broadband commentary threatens to break laws of libel and that the law applies to new media just as it does to television programmes. We are encouraging readers to contempt. The third is that the demands of the print. join in as never before. multi-media approach take reporters away from some of those traditional “watchdog” roles that have made Kim Fletcher, Chairman journalism such a benefit to a democratic society. Chairman’s report 3 Radical reform and renewal have transformed the The newspaper industry’s desire for a coherent So there’s no dilution of the standards and skills we NCTJ in recent years helping us to meet the needs of strategy for journalism training and qualifications has insist on in writing and reporting the news backed up by today’s journalists and allowing us to keep pace with resulted in agreement to merge training routes and sound knowledge of law, government and shorthand. changes in the media. This speed of change is set to produce a single ‘gold standard’ qualification. One of continue and so, while we consolidate and build on our the many benefits of the digital revolution in the Our new accreditation standard was introduced this previous achievements, we constantly have to predict newsroom has been the industry’s decision to unite year and sets out clearly the principles, aims and and respond to challenges to break new ground. and work together with the NCTJ to tackle the performance indicators that we expect course providers changing skills agenda. to demonstrate if they want the industry’s kite-mark. Both existing and new centres will be working in Achieving recognition from the Qualifications and partnership with us to meet the standard in the year Curriculum Authority was a milestone two years ago ahead. and has been followed by accreditation of our preliminary qualifications for reporters and sub-editors One of the most important initiatives the NCTJ has onto the National Qualifications Framework . This facilitated in recent years has been the establishment of involved the combined efforts of all our leading the industry’s Journalism Diversity Fund. It is examiners, advisors and staff and gave our awards the heartening to see this going from strength-to-strength. overdue external recognition they deserve. Firm foundations have been laid, many more bursaries have been awarded this year and the future looks Modernising and updating our qualifications has promising for all those involved in the fund. continued with further adjustments to the NCE for reporters and extensive consultation on the future In 2003, the NCTJ set out its ambitious five-year rolling shape of our magazine journalism, photography and plan to develop values of the organisation that focused sports journalism examinations. This work is set to on customers, growth, leadership, resources, profile continue as we integrate our new online and video and standards. In 2008 we will be consulting widely journalism syllabus and assessments into our with all our stakeholders as we set our strategy and qualifications for newspaper reporters, magazine goals for the next five years. journalists and press photographers. I look forward to hearing your views and working with In all this change and growth, we have not lost sight of you in the next exciting stage of our development. what we’re famous for and will not compromise on all the traditional fundamentals of good journalism. Joanne Butcher, Chief Executive Chief executive’s review 4 Convergence The new Certificate in Online Journalism was Sports Reporting Changes to NCTJ qualifications in 2007 have been driven welcomed by the industry and many educators and The Sports Reporting qualification in development by converging journalism skills and developments in the trainers. It includes two assessments: an online writing takes the principles of general news reporting covered newsroom with the explosion of web-based news and and editing examination consisting of three writing and in the News Writing syllabus and applies them to the most newspapers reporting stories as they happen on editing exercises; and coursework consisting of a short full range of sports journalism. It ensures candidates their websites. news video created entirely by the candidate. can produce the different types of story required at each point in the sports news cycle; from preview After wide consultation, the industry gave a clear signal The certificate was launched as an optional additional through live report to inquest. that additional training and qualifications in online qualification for reporters and ten accredited courses reporting, editing and video journalism were a priority for have chosen to offer students this option during the It will equip candidates with sufficient understanding of students, trainees and experienced journalists.