NCE for Reporters hailed the most topical ever

An interview focussing on an accident at a fireworks event made the November sitting of the NCTJ’s National Certificate Examination for Reporters ‘the most topical ever’.

209 trainee reporters sat the NCE for Reporters on Friday 6 November at 14 centres across the country.

The day progressed smoothly due to the help of 111 volunteers who gave their time to help young reporters and photographers achieve the NCTJ’s senior qualification.

As the NCE for Reporters was held on the day following Guy Fawkes’ Night, NCTJ examiners came up with a very topical exam interview, which focussed on an incident where a rogue firework shot sideways into a 15,000 strong crowd at a large display.

Trainees had to use their interviewing skills to find out that five children were injured in the incident, with some released from hospital but others transferred to a specialist burns unit.

Steve Nelson, NCTJ newspaper journalism chief examiner, said: “I think this was the most topical NCE we have ever done.

“One of the candidates told me that after the examination she picked up her local paper and the front page story was that five people had been injured in a fireworks incident.”

Steve added: “We aim to be as realistic as possible but that was a bit spooky.”

Results of the NCE for Reporters will be placed on the NCTJ website www.nctj.com on Friday 18 December.