JOURNALISM FOR SCHOOLS

CAREERS IN JOURNALISM

2009-08-10T03:56:00.015-07:00

Welcome to journalism4schools, a site designed to offer free advice to school leavers and others wishing to pursue a career in journalism.
Since the mid-1990s I have been actively involved in training young journalists - initially as part of my job within some of the country's largest newspaper groups and latterly as a freelance editorial training consultant.
An award-winning writer with more than 20 years' experience in the UK regional press, I now work as a freelance editorial tutor and lecturer.
The driving force behind journalism4schools was my frustration at the poor guidance given about careers in journalism received by many young people getting started in the profession.
My experience has been that school leavers appreciate honest, no-nonsense advice about the choices they face in getting the best on-the-job training that will help them pursue their writing career.
This website aims to achieve just that, as well as offering a couple of keenly priced distance-learning courses for beginners who want to find out if the job is really for them without spending thousands of pounds on inappropriate training or discovering they have made a mistake halfway through a three-year undergraduate course.
Let me know if you find it useful, have any queries or find any information out of date. See the contents menu for help with specific questions or if you want to tackle one of the cheap courses available.

journalism4schools

2009-08-10T03:56:00.013-07:00

How can journalism4schools help with your journalism career?
1 - Free no-nonsense advice on the best training options for you
2 - Help with follow-up queries
3 - Links to relevant courses and other training resources
4 - Cheap distance-learning options to give you honest feedback on your writing

oOo

Advice on the site is geared towards school leavers in England and Wales who are interested in journalism careers. Anyone based abroad should looks in the contents list for the relevant link.

GETTING STARTED

2009-08-10T03:56:00.011-07:00

A useful starting point is to establish whether you are interested in a specific branch of journalism, since some journalism courses are geared towards those wanting to work for newspapers, magazines or in broadcasting, for example.
However you may not be sure whether you want to specialise in a particular discipline and there are also more general journalism courses for those who have no clear idea at this stage of their future career path.
Be aware that the business is changing rapidly, with fewer "traditional" jobs in newspapers and more opportunities for those working on websites and specialist publications.
Similarly there is more overlap between these disciplines; all print publications now have an online presence and there is an expectation that you will understand how to write for the web, take digital photographs and upload video packages.
Some media companies are "broadcasting" on the web and all newsrooms realise the importance of serving online readers, as well as those buying a traditional printed product.
Traditionally, most journalists started their careers working as a reporter for a daily or weekly regional paper. This is no longer automatic and there are many other ways of breaking into the business for those who have no desire to work as a local reporter.
It’s worth remembering too that there are numerous behind-the-scenes journalistic jobs which might be of interest to you too.
Sub-editors, for example, are the people who design and lay out newspaper pages as well as editing copy. There are also opportunities for designers in both the print and electronic media. Or you might be interested in working as a broadcast researcher rather than an on-screen presenter or newsreader.
The site is divided into different sections to help guide you through the journalism training options in a logical way.
You might start by looking at the qualifications and qualities required to become a journalist.
The training courses pages then look at the journalism training options in print, broadcast magazine and digital journalism.
You can also find out more about introductory distance learning courses available through journalism4schools.
Links are provided to the different independent sites run by various colleges and employers.

QUALIFICATIONS

2009-08-10T03:56:00.009-07:00

Anyone wanting to work as a journalist is likely to find that practical skills are every bit as important as formal qualifications. You do not have to be a graduate, for example, although the increasing number of young people embarking on some form of higher education in recent years has meant that most people entering the profession are now graduates. There used to be far more opportunities for school leavers to break into the business without attending college or university, and this is still possible if the idea of higher education does not appeal.

For similar reasons the minimum education requirements for prospective journalists tend to be quite low – normally two A levels, of which one should be English. But don’t be misled into thinking that this means getting into the business is easy, or that journalists in general are not well educated. It is simply a reflection of the fact that in some cases practical skills and specific qualities may be of more interest to editors than academic qualifications – mainly because academic qualifications are not in themselves an accurate indicator of whether someone will be a good journalist.

The same applies to your choice of degree subject should you choose to go to university before entering the profession. Unless you have very specific choice of careers in journalism in mind – working as a foreign correspondent, say, or a business specialist – editors will normally be happy to consider applications from candidates with a wide range of traditional university qualifications, from English to economics.

However it’s worth noting that editors are very wary of media studies qualifications, since these are frequently very generalised and do not include any practical journalism training. The explosion of interest in media careers in recent years has resulted in a corresponding increase in the number of such courses provided by colleges, but editors would often prefer candidates to have studied a traditional mainstream degree course or a recognised journalism qualification. if you are 19, have a good grasp of the writing essentials and have plenty of contacts - or the ability to got out and get them - you could even win a place on a course normally described as "postgraduate".

(The training courses section of the website discusses which courses are recognised by different bodies.)

You need to consider whether you have really got what it takes to succeed in what can be a very demanding environment. Potential employers are looking for signs that your interest in the job is a genuine commitment, not just a passing fancy – and that you have the qualities as well as the qualifications required to cope with the day-to-day demands of the business.

Those interested in specialised careers in journalism would be expected to take relevant university courses – languages in the case of a would-be foreign correspondent, or business studies and/or economics for someone interested in becoming a specialist business correspondent. The same would apply if you dream of becoming a political correspondent, for example.

Two things are worth bearing in mind when choosing a university course. One is that the course will not in itself bring you any closer to becoming a journalist – you will still be expected to undertake one of the short postgraduate journalism courses to acquire those all-important practical journalism skills.

The second point is that there is a lot you can do while you are at university to make yourself a stronger interview candidate – by editing the university magazine or newspaper, for example, or contributing to the local newspaper, working as a freelance or doing anything else which helps to establish your commitment and enthusiasm as well as providing hard evidence of your ability to get your writing published.

You can also set about acquiring some of the practical skills required by working journalists which are not normally taught at university – like shorthand, and a knowledge of media law and government, both at a central and local level.

QUALITIES

2009-08-10T03:56:00.007-07:00

Journalism is not for the faint-hearted or the half-hearted and there are a number of specific qualities editors are looking for when they interview candidates for trainee vacancies.

What sort of person makes a good reporter? An ability to communicate easily, both verbally and in writing, is an important and fairly obvious prerequisite. But are you genuinely interested in people? Are you inquisitive, curious or downright nosey?

Are you good at interviewing people? Are you good at listening to what they say – a much underestimated journalistic skill? Are you good at researching a complex subject and explaining it in plain English?

Can you communicate well with people from all walks of life? As a local reporter you would be expected to attend inquests and funerals, courts and council meetings and interview everyone from disgruntled council tenants to the mayor or chief constable.

Sheer enthusiasm is a virtue which is hard to ignore. Editors don’t expect trainees to know all the answers, but they do expect them to be eager to learn. Candidates who appear cynical, disgruntled, arrogant, bored or indifferent will be quickly weeded out.

It’s worth thinking at an early stage about what else the job involves. You will need to meet deadlines, for example, which means working at speed and often under pressure. Is that something you would relish, or something you fear? Evening papers have tighter deadlines than morning or weekly papers, so reporters on those titles will be expected to produce clean copy very quickly indeed once they are fully trained.

It should be obvious that none of the academic qualifications you gain give any real indication of whether you have the above qualities, so the initial interview will be important. But the best way to prepare for the interview is to have practical examples of your published work to show an editor.

Indeed, many papers will not interview any candidates who do not have hard evidence of their ability to do the job, possibly gained through one or more work experience placements.

The problem for editors is that the CVs of ten typical graduates will look very similar. They will therefore be looking for any evidence that sets you apart from the crowd. More information about this is contained in the section on CVs.

Persistence and determination are valuable qualities in a journalist, and editors will be on the look-out for evidence of these from the outset. That means not being put off if you are unsuccessful at your first attempt. It will count in your favour that you have continued to take practical steps to overcome any obstacles places in your way. Editors will also look favourably on candidates who take constructive advice in good faith and who set out to follow up any practical guidance offered.

YOUR CV

2009-08-10T03:56:00.003-07:00

As for any applicant, your CV is a showcase of what you can offer a potential employer. For prospective journalists, it’s particularly important that any CV avoids being pompous, verbose or wordy.

Keep your CV and covering letter concise and to the point – and above all, make sure that every word is spelt properly and that the application is addressed to the right person. Many applications have been thrown straight into the bin because of basic errors which smack of carelessness or incompetence.

This should be self-evident, but it is surprising how many letters of application contain glaring errors simply because the applicant has not checked their facts or proof-read the final draft carefully enough.

Increasingly, editors are also looking for a clear demonstration of your commitment to the industry in the form of work experience - preferably resulting in published work.

In some cases editors will only invite candidates to interview if their CV includes such experience.

STARTING OUT IN JOURNALISM

2009-08-10T03:56:00.001-07:00

This no-nonsense distance learning journalism course aims to give you a thorough grounding in basic journalism skills, as well the chance to obtain honest feedback from a professional journalist on a series of written assignments.

Your tutor will provide detailed feedback on your written exercises, as well as answering any queries you may have and offering career guidance if appropriate.

You will learn how to write news reports, features, columns and reviews, learn more about the print and broadcast industries and tackle written assignments ranging from factual reports to magazine articles.

You will also be introduced to ways of developing your news sense, making contacts, crafting “intros”, spotting “angles” and conducting effective interviews – as well as specialist areas like court reporting, travel writing, face-to-face profiles and human interest features.

The journalism course is highly practical and focused on helping you to write in a sharp, concise style that will appeal to editors. Feedback is honest, constructive and designed to encourage you to make rapid progress in honing your writing style.

The course includes a brief introduction to media law, sub-editing and writing for the trade press and broadcast media.

The course comprises SIX lessons, each incorporating written assignments, and is currently available at a special rate of £95 all-inclusive. Once enrolled, you can tackle lessons at your own pace: an assiduous student might expect to complete the journalism course in 12-16 weeks, but you have up to 18 months to tackle it at your leisure if you prefer.

Send an email to andrew@andrewknight.org if you have a query about the course. You are under no commitment.

MEDIA LAW FOR BEGINNERS

2009-08-10T03:55:00.006-07:00

Media Law for Beginners is targeted at young people who are determined to follow careers in journalism.

All published writers need to have a much more detailed and accurate knowledge of the law than ordinary members of the public. Slander, libel, contempt of court, breach of copyright – do these terms mean anything to you? If not, your work cannot be published safely without an experienced editor studying what you have written to ensure you have not broken the law.

This applies whether you are working for newspapers, magazines, radio, TV or the internet. It applies whether you specialise in columns or reviews, travel articles or consumer tests. But it applies most of all if you are a reporter covering hard news stories.

Aspiring journalists – especially those who have gained their initial writing experience on student papers and internet websites – sometimes assume they can write what they like with impunity. This is not the case. There are numerous laws restricting what we can write, many of them protecting ordinary people’s rights – the right to a fair trial, for example, or the right not to have one’s reputation unfairly attacked.

There are two reasons why all journalists need to have a detailed working knowledge of the law. One is so that they know their rights – how far they can safely go when writing a story without breaking the law. This means knowing when they are permitted to attend courts and council meetings, understanding what is meant by terms like freedom of expression, recognising when a story is in the public interest and knowing what defences exist in defamation and contempt cases.

The other is so that they can recognise potential legal pitfalls – and abide by the legal restrictions imposed on them.

Most journalists find the law is a fascinating subject to study, but no one would suggest it is easy. It’s also a subject where a little bit of theoretical knowledge is not sufficient to keep you out of trouble. Working journalists need to know how to apply the law to different real-life situations.

This journalism course introduces you to the most important legal areas which are of concern to journalists – libel and contempt, copyright, codes of conduct, privacy, confidentiality and the specific requirements involved in covering crime and court stories, including the restrictions relating to stories involving sex offences and children and young people.

Many employers insist that trainees pass law exams to qualify for a job, and this course is designed to prepare you to sit the appropriate preliminary law exams set by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) or equivalent in-house training schemes.

The course comprises TEN lessons, each incorporating written assignments, and is currently available at a special rate of £145 all-inclusive. Once enrolled, you can tackle lessons at your own pace: an assiduous student might expect to complete the course in 12-16 weeks, but you have up to 18 months to tackle it at your leisure if you prefer.

Send an email to andrew@andrewknight.org if you have a query about the course. You are under no commitment.

HOW TO ENROL

2009-08-10T03:55:00.005-07:00

NAME & AGE:

ADDRESS:

HOME TEL NO / MOBILE / EMAIL:

COURSE & AMOUNT:

COPY: VIA EMAIL AS WORD DOCUMENTS / HARD COPY BY POST (delete as appropriate)

To enrol on either of our journalism courses, type out and fill in the details above and send the completed form with a cheque made out to journalism4schools, to: journalism4schools, 19a Macroom Road, Maida Vale W9 3HY.

As soon as your application is processed, you will receive copies of the first two lessons – either by email or post, according to your preference. You can then complete assignments in your own time – you should receive feedback within a maximum of 7-10 days, although often the response will be much quicker. You will always be sent your next lesson in advance, so that you can start working on it while you are awaiting feedback.

If you have any queries, you can contact Andrew Knight on 020 8964 5338 or 07870 885059. If he is training, he will return your call personally as soon as possible if you leave your number.

Alternatively you can contact me by email at: andrew@andrewknight.org

PRINT JOURNALISM TRAINING

2009-08-10T03:55:00.003-07:00

Most regional paper editors prefer to take trainees from journalism courses accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) since this will mean candidates have passed national preliminary exams in law, government and reporting skills, as well as attaining 100wpm shorthand. Indeed, the country's biggest newspaper groups now normally insist on these basic NCTJ qualifications unless they are hiring a trainee with a view to sponsoring their training (see below).

These journalism courses are ideal if you know you want a career in the regional press – although the price and length of courses vary greatly around the country and it’s well worth checking out all the options.

Courses range from block release to fast-track graduate courses, full-year undergraduate courses and foundation degrees. There are more than 40 of them, and full details of accredited courses can be found on www.nctj.com.

The drawback of such journalism courses is that they may not be ideally suited to you if you are not sure that you want to start your career in regional newspapers. They are, of necessity, classroom orientated, since passing the relevant law and government exams, and attaining 100wpm shorthand, require considerable training input.

The best journalism courses also have well-equipped newsrooms, produce their own student papers and focus strongly on practical journalism skills. Some of the best-known and respected centres include those at Darlington, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Harlow, Preston, Newcastle (Press Association), Cardiff and Nottingham. Students wanting an NCTJ course based in Central London should look at noSWeat Journalism Training in Clerkenwell.

There’s no better way of starting your career than to have your training sponsored by your future employer – but of course that means getting the job first! One of the most respected fast-track intensive journalism courses in the country is run by the Press Association in Newcastle. It offers a very small number of self-sponsored places, but most students have their fees paid by their future employers having been selected as trainees at interviews in regional centres around the country.

The big newspaper groups are worth checking out both for work experience and training opportunities, which will often only be advertised locally. Check out the main players who control hundreds of titles between them - Trinity Mirror, Newsquest, Archant, Johnston Press, Northcliffe Newspapers, Guardian Media Group, Midland News Association.

There are also some smaller groups and independent titles, so it is worth exploring all the publications produced locally.

If you are unsure which area of journalism you wish to specialise in, the London School of Journalism offers an intensive, practical postgraduate diploma course based at its college in Maida Vale. The course covers news and feature writing, sub-editing and design, media law and an introduction to broadcast journalism. Courses range from three to six months and include a nine-month evening class option for those already in full-time employment and considering a career change.

In addition to the websites operated by the big newspaper groups, the following are useful too:

www.nctj.com - for a full list of accredited NCTJ courses

www.lsj.org - for journalism training options in London and distance-learning options

www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk - for journalism news, vacancies and useful site links

www.pressgazette.co.uk - for industry news and contacts

www.newspapersoc.org.uk - for industry news and useful links

www.societyofeditors.co.uk - for industry news and links

www.journalism.co.uk - for jobs, news and short courses

MAGAZINES

2009-08-10T03:55:00.001-07:00

The Periodicals Training Council is the training arm of the trade association for the magazine industry, the Periodical Publishers Association (PPA). It has an accreditation scheme for quality magazine journalism courses in London, Portsmouth, Harlow, Bournemouth and Cardiff.
Its website also aims to answer any other questions you may have about the magazine or trade press. Full details can be found on www.ppa.co.uk

BROADCAST JOURNALISM

2009-01-25T17:12:00.000-08:00

Most of the broadcast journalism graduates taken on by major employers like the BBC will have completed a course accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC).
You can find a full list of such courses on the council's website, which again aims to provide a logical starting point for anyone considering a career in broadcasting.
For full details, see www.bjtc.org.uk

DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES

2009-01-25T16:42:00.000-08:00

Reputable distance learning journalism courses allow you to learn at your own speed and study from home.

For students from abroad, the London School of Journalism offers the widest range of practical writing courses, including options suited for those wishing to work as staff or freelance writers anywhere in the world - see lsj.org

The NCTJ also offers distance-learning options, although the nature of this course, which is primarily geared towards careers in the regional press in the UK, means that attendance courses are preferable for most candidates.

The two distance learning journalism courses run by journalism4schools are primarily designed for those still at or about to leave school in England and Wales and aim to provide the cheapest way of acquiring core skills and getting some initial feedback on your writing now. See Starting Out In Journalism or Media Law for Beginners in the menu.

LONDON SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM

2009-01-18T16:43:00.000-08:00

Various mentions can be found on this website to the LSJ - and a glance at my CV will show this is an organisation I have been involved with for a number of years.

I don't have any specific financial interest in promoting the school, however - it's just that my long involvement with both the distance-learning and attendance courses has convinced me of the worth of its training for many aspiring journalists.

Having studied the other pages on this site, it could be worth looking at the LSJ site lsj.org in more detail if you fall into any of the categories below. More information about past students' achievements can my found on the sister blog: andrewjknight.blogspot.com.

DISTANCE-LEARNING: There are other training courses advertised on the web, but the LSJ is the longest established and most reputable, with students all over the world, a strong team of professional tutors and a successful track record over the years. Uniquely, it also now offers a two-year online training option which allows students anywhere in the world to tackle the same syllabus offered to those attending the postgraduate courses in London.

SUMMER SCHOOL: Every August around 30 individuals of all ages from around the world gather in Maida Vale for an intensive month-long study course offering many of the benefits of the postgraduate course in a compressed timescale, with daily lectures and practical writing assignments.

POSTGRADUATE COURSES: Although the other pages on this site highlight training options for those with a clear idea of what area of journalism they wish to specialise in, the LSJ offers intensive postgraduate diploma courses geared for students who are able to study over different timeframes.

The three-month course is aimed at those able to dedicate themselves to full-time study, starting in January, April and September.

The six-month course is suited to those who require more free time during the week for other working or work experience commitments, or who feel the longer period of study is better suited to their personal or language needs. Courses start in January and September.

There is also an evening class option for those who work full-time and are considering a change of career, again starting in January and September. All the courses feature the same core syllabus, tutors and assignments - and all, in their own way, are equally demanding.

ANDREW KNIGHT

2009-01-18T16:22:00.000-08:00

I was lucky. When I finished university I was offered a job by the local evening paper and sent on a first-class training course where all the costs were met by my employer.
Nowadays such opportunities are rare - and with thousands of young people expressing interest in media careers, competition to get into the industry has never been stiffer, despite the huge range of new opportunities opened up by digital, video, cable and satellite broadcasting.
My main concern is that many aspiring journalists are forced to spend many thousands of pounds on their journalism training BEFORE finding out whether they are really suited to jobs in journalism.
I hope the website provides one way of helping you to make the best possible choice of course that is right for you.
My full CV can be seen on the right. Whether or not you choose to take up one of our short introductory courses, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you every success in a career where jobs can be as rewarding and exciting as they are challenging.
Good luck! And remember that if you have any queries, any advice offered is free and without obligation.
All the best
Andrew Knight