‘Gifted’ journalism trainer wins NCTJ chairman’s award 2019
John Wilson, former JPIMedia editorial trainer, has been honoured for his outstanding contribution to journalism training and education with the NCTJ chairman’s award.
John Wilson, former JPIMedia editorial trainer, has been honoured for his outstanding contribution to journalism training and education with the NCTJ chairman’s award.
Kim Fletcher, chairman of the NCTJ, presented the award to John at the Awards for Excellence ceremony at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on Thursday, 28 November.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kim said: “John is a gifted trainer and outstanding communicator who is held in the highest esteem by all those who have worked and trained with him.
“Generous, modest, warm-hearted, patient, passionate about his craft and his beliefs, and universally regarded as a true gentleman and a genuinely lovely man, John is a fountain of knowledge and renowned for his professionalism and calmness.”
John left school in 1973 to join his hometown newspaper, The Dewsbury Reporter, as a trainee. The NCTJ archive confirms he did his preliminary exams training at Darlington College before passing his Proficiency Test at the Bradford exam centre.
He went on to work for the Yorkshire Evening Post, Yorkshire Post, Huddersfield Examiner and Halifax Courier with a brief interlude as a press officer at the West Yorkshire Fire Service.
John returned to The Dewsbury Reporter where he was editor-in-chief for seven years, leading the title to Yorkshire Weekly Newspaper of the Year.
He became group editorial trainer for Johnston Press in 2006 and editorial learning and development manager in 2015.
In these roles he trained hundreds of journalists across the business in all the skills needed in the newsroom including preparing young journalists for the NQJ.
John retired from JPIMedia in June this year but continues to work with the NCTJ team as a senior examiner and training consultant. John has been a vital member of the NCTJ journalism examinations board for more than ten years.
Kim Fletcher said: “A brilliant trainer and one of the nicest and most knowledgeable journalists you could ever wish to meet, we are delighted to acknowledge with this award the outstanding contribution John Wilson has made to the training of so many journalists.”
