Groundbreaking journalism training scheme to pay students
Aspiring journalists studying on two NCTJ accredited courses will be offered paid newspaper shifts due to a groundbreaking training scheme launched today.
Aspiring journalists studying on two NCTJ accredited courses will be offered paid newspaper shifts due to a groundbreaking training scheme launched today.
The Herald and Times Group, based in Glasgow, has launched a journalism training scheme which will offer paid placements to student journalists at two of the city’s NCTJ accredited centres, Glasgow Caledonian University and Cardonald College.
Donald Martin, editor-in-chief of the Herald and Times, a director of the NCTJ and chairman of the NCTJ Journalism Qualifications Board, said the editorial training scheme will nurture and encourage talent to help strengthen and rebuild the industry across Scotland.
Donald said: “This innovative programme will be the gold-standard of journalism training. We are encouraging journalism students who are on NCTJ accredited courses to develop their skills in the workplace they want to be part of.
“We are offering them paid shifts designed to help them learn how to write and report better. They will have the opportunity to work across our titles in print and online as we extend our multimedia output.
“It is a long-term commitment to the industry and a major investment in making journalism better.”
Joanne Butcher, chief executive of the NCTJ, said: “Work experience is a crucial part of a student’s preparation for a career in journalism.
“The Herald and Times editorial training scheme is to be applauded because it goes much further not only by providing well organised and structured on-the-job training but by paying students for their work to help them meet the costs of their courses and examinations.”
The BA Journalism and the MA Multimedia Journalism at Glasgow Caledonian University are accredited by the NCTJ and the BA Journalism is the only undergraduate programme in Scotland with NCTJ accreditation. Cardonald College offers the only HND course in Scotland to have NCTJ accreditation.
Julian Calvert, senior lecturer in Journalism at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: “This collaboration with the Herald and Times further strengthens our relationship with Scotland’s leading media company.
“Work experience has always been a key factor in securing the employability of our graduates and it’s great that journalists from the Herald and Times will be passing on their knowledge and skills to our students, both in the newsroom and on campus.”
Martin Boyle, course coordinator at Cardonald College, said: “We strive for excellence in our journalism delivery and, along with NCTJ accreditation, the partnership with the Herald and Times is an exciting, unique collaboration which further strengthens our position at the heart of Scotland’s journalism training.
Martin added: “Work experience, training and the opportunity to learn from the vast expertise on offer is sure to be of huge benefit to our students, ensuring they are ahead of the game when it comes to making an impact in such a challenging and competitive industry.”
