News & blog

Six former community reporters have shared their experiences of the Community News Project (CNP), as they move into permanent roles with their publishers.

"What was most unexpected was how many communities surround us that we simply do not think about. There are people from all walks of life crying out for their voices to be heard - all they want is to be listened to and understood."

"I believe my role as a Facebook community reporter allowed me to actively make sure every voice was heard and cover previously undocumented topics through the level of trust I had gradually built with my contacts."

"I saw the Facebook community journalism project as an exciting initiative that was looking to put local communities at the heart of regional news, something I have been immensely proud to have been part of."

"My favourite thing about being a community reporter was giving people from similar backgrounds to myself a voice and seeing the difference it made to their lives and those around them."

"Being a community reporter has been more than an ideal role to begin life as a journalist. It’s helped me identify the types of stories I enjoy reporting on and led to my new job as a life writer across Lincolnshire Live, Derbyshire Live, and Nottinghamshire Live."

"It's such a huge opportunity. We need people from all walks of life to represent communities. Whatever your age or background this is such a good way of accessing journalism training."

The Society of Editors is today announced as the latest sponsor of the NCTJ’s Journalism Diversity Fund (JDF).

The National Council for the Training of Journalists is this year celebrating its 70th anniversary.