NCTJ Diploma in Journalism

Staffordshire University is accredited by the NCTJ. This means, that while you are studying your MA Journalism degree you are strongly advised to attain the NCTJ’s Diploma in Journalism, which employers still view above all else as a mark of professional ability and competence. In short, they are essential to help you get your first break in a career in journalism.

Here is a guide to the certificate which you should aim to complete before you graduate from Staffordshire University.

Currently, the NCTJ Diploma is made up of SEVEN units. Six of these are core/compulsory elements, the seventh can be one of several options:

Six core units

Reporting: Part 1 requires you to produce one major news story, which includes writing a newsflash, a short story for online, a suitable eye-catching headline, and a full story of 275-325 words using a variety of material from different sources, either for online/print or a TV or Radio script.
Part 2 asks you to identify key sources to follow up a story idea, and how you would question those sources, and requires you to identify how you would use video/audio and digital technology to showcase your story on the web and create interaction with your readers/audience. Examination lasts two and half hours.

Essential Public Affairs: Syllabus covers elements of central and local government, such as finance, frontline services, power etc, with a two and a half hour examination testing practical knowledge and application to journalism.

Essential Media Law: Syllabus includes general reporting, regulation and compliance and an introduction to court reporting. The two and a half hour examination will also include an Ofcom or PCC option.

Media Law (Court Reporting): Syllabus includes all court related matters including court processes, restrictions on reporting different hearings, Contempt and related matters, juveniles, sexual offences, challenging court orders, defamation in context of reporting court and inquests. One and a half hour exam.

Shorthand (Teeline): Target is to achieve the industry “gold” standard of 100wpm. Listening skills to be tested at 90-120wpm by identifying and transcribing a quote with 100% accuracy. Examinations last four minutes, speeds of 60-80wpm have a 30-second interval after first two minutes, speeds of 90-120wpm have 30-second interval after two minutes and a 15-seond interval after third minute.

Multimedia Portfolio: Syllabus includes integration of journalism skills and multi-platform news and features, a compulsory Public Affairs journalism assignment and options to submit stories in any format. Continuous assessment with portfolios to be completed and submitted before completion of award.

Options

Video Journalism for Online: Tests a student’s ability to edit raw video material suitable for a news website, including a scripted voiceover matching shots, telling the story accurately and fluently. Candidates assessed on picture editing quality, journalistic competence in spotting angles, legal issues, accuracy, quality of the script, and use of audio/sound.

Production Journalism: Tests ability to sub copy, spot errors and best angles, re-write where necessary, ensure accuracy and legally safe. Students tested on variety of stories for print or online, includes headline writing, proof-reading, page designing. Two-hour examination + coursework of one tabloid news page.

Sports Journalism:  Candidates to show full range of reporting sports, from previews, live reports and inquest pieces. It equips students with knowledge of sports politics and public affairs, and on a wide range of sporting issues. Two examinations, including (part 1) a live match report and (part 2) a one-hour exam.

Broadcast Journalism: A new option with syllabus and assessment details TBC

To gain the full NCTJ Diploma in Journalism, candidates must pass all SEVEN elements at a minimum ‘C’ grade of 50% or above. In the case of Shorthand, this equates to a minimum 100wpm.

You have the chance to achieve this during your 3-yr degree at Staffordshire University – and doing so will make you hugely employable, well above the majority of other journalism students in the country who do not manage this.

Achieving this also allows you to take the ‘senior’ journalism qualification once you are working full time in the industry after graduating. This is called....

The NCTJ National Certificate Examination (NCE)

Designed to examine all-round competence in a range of fundamental skills, the NCE is the professional, senior qualification offered by the NCTJ.

All trainees must be registered with the NCTJ before being eligible to sit the NCE. To qualify to sit the exam, trainees must first have passed all of the NCTJ’s preliminary examinations, usually while on a college course, and have undertaken a period of full-time employment on a newspaper or news agency - 18 months for pre-entrants or two years for direct entrants.

Remember…passing the NCE means a big jump in MONEY!

And it also opens doors to bigger and better jobs on nationals, magazines, agencies, working abroad etc.

• BA(Hons) Journalism
  
  
• MA Journalism

NCTJ website