Journalism Diversity Fund alumni celebrate NQJ results

Two former Journalism Diversity Fund recipients have achieved senior reporter status after passing the first ever National Qualification for Journalists (NQJ) exam.
Claire French and Lucy Roue both successfully completed the industry’s professional qualification for trainee journalists.

Claire, who completed her preliminary training at City College Brighton and Hove in 2011 and now works as a reporter for the Surrey Advertiser, said she was delighted with the news: “I’m really chuffed with my result and am happy to be able to call myself a senior reporter. Without the help of the fund, I would have struggled to pay for my initial training and getting the desired qualification for a career in news journalism.

Claire completed her preliminary training at City College Brighton and Hove.

Lucy, who won a bursary in 2011 to study at Press Association in Newcastle, is currently working as a reporter for The Sentinel. She said: “I am thrilled to have passed my NQJ first time, especially as we were guinea pigs for the new style exam.

“I feel the Journalism Diversity Fund bursary started the ball rolling in an excellent career in journalism and this latest result will open many doors for me to progress up the ladder or choose a specialism to focus on.”

The NQJ for reporters is divided into four sections: an e-logbook; a news interview; an updated news report paper; and a new media law and practice paper, which replaces the previous newspaper practice exam.

Trainees must complete at least 18 months employment before they are eligible to sit the exam.

Employers who support the programme register trainees with the NCTJ and an e-logbook, providing evidence of training and experience, is completed before taking the exams.