NCTJ patron – Alex Crawford
In October 2018, the NCTJ appointed Alex Crawford, special correspondent for Sky News, as the charity’s first ever patron.
The decision to appoint Alex as patron came after she received the most nominations from journalists who were asked which living journalist they felt most embodies the values of journalism that they respect and adhere to as part of the 2018 Journalists at Work survey.
Alex, who began her career at the Wokingham Times, said: “It’s a huge honour to be asked to be the first NCTJ patron – and while I’m still struggling to understand how I’m considered anything like responsible enough to take up the position, I’m determined to do everything I can to help those just entering the profession.
“I started out as an NCTJ trainee. I was inspired, encouraged and nurtured by incredibly patient and passionate tutors as well as a larger than life regional newspaper editor who gave me a chance when no-one else would.
“You don’t forget seminal moments like that.”
Emeritus chairman – Kim Fletcher
Kim Fletcher was appointed to the board of the NCTJ in June 2004 and stepped down as chairman in 2024 after two decades at the helm.
He is a partner at the international, corporate communications firm Brunswick. He was previously editorial director of Telegraph Group Ltd, publisher of The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph, and telegraph.co.uk. Kim read law at Hertford College, Oxford, before joining The Star, Sheffield, which sponsored him on the postgraduate journalism course at University College, Cardiff. He left Sheffield – having gained his NCTJ proficiency certificate – to freelance on Fleet Street, before joining the staff of The Sunday Times.
In 1998, after four years as deputy editor of The Sunday Telegraph, he was appointed editor of The Independent on Sunday. In 25 years on Fleet Street, Kim has written for most national newspapers as a news reporter, sports columnist or feature writer. Kim is editor of the quarterly publication British Journalism Review and author of The Journalist’s Handbook, published by Macmillan.
