NCTJ ambassadors offer insightful discussion on key issues from Journalists at Work report
A lively panel discussion, chaired by the NCTJ’s chair designate Sue Brooks, saw NCTJ ambassadors reflect on the report’s findings and share their personal experiences.
The NCTJ’s Journalists at Work 2024 report was launched yesterday at a special event at Reuters in London.
This major piece of research provides critical insights into the evolving nature of journalism in the UK, covering key issues such as diversity, unpaid work experience, AI, and the shift to remote working.
A lively panel discussion, chaired by the NCTJ’s chair designate Sue Brooks, saw NCTJ ambassadors reflect on the report’s findings and share their personal experiences.
Panellists included Mirek Gosney, community news reporter at Newbury News, Damian Shepherd, European real estate reporter at Bloomberg, Charlotte Vowles, press officer at Headway and Emaan Warraich, journalist at BBC World Service.
Journalists At Work 2024. Images Copyright www.tellingphotography.com
Damian Shepherd, who benefited from the NCTJ’s Journalism Diversity Fund (JDF), spoke about the barriers he faced. He said: “I owe my education and my career to the JDF as someone from a low-income background and with parents who had illnesses and could not work.
“I have had to deal with imposter syndrome and it will always be there. It has taken me years to be confident in the person I am.”
Emaan Warraich highlighted the challenges journalists from ethnic minority backgrounds face in newsrooms. She said: “Being the only person from an ethnic background can be daunting, especially when 99% of other people make you feel pressure to do stories about people from ethnic backgrounds, and then you find you get pigeonholed.”
Emaan also pointed out the economic barriers posed by unpaid work experience, adding: “Unpaid work experience creates an economic barrier and suggests you have to start off with money.”
Charlotte Vowles echoed these concerns, saying, “I did a lot of unpaid work experience and I learned a lot from these experiences, but it is something we should look at.”
The shift to working from home was another topic discussed, with the report finding that only 11 per cent of journalists never work from home.
While Charlotte appreciated the flexibility it provided, especially as someone with long-term health conditions, she acknowledged the value of learning from others in the newsroom. She said: “At the beginning of my career, it was good to work with people I could learn from,” she said.
She added: “Being able to talk on the phone helps build relations. When you speak to vulnerable people, you would gain more from them and they would gain something more by talking to you.”
Mirek Gosney also emphasised the benefits of office-based work for new journalists. Mirek said: “You need to be in the office to develop and have people around you, so you get to the point where you are picking up the phone and speaking to people with other people around you.”
Emaan added: “You learn by osmosis in the office, and there are many benefits to being in that atmosphere to learn from others.”
Left to right: Sue Brooks, Joanne Forbes, Kim Fletcher. Images Copyright www.tellingphotography.com
The event concluded with a drinks reception to celebrate outgoing NCTJ chairman Kim Fletcher, marking his final event with the organisation after two decades at the NCTJ.
Joanne Forbes, chief executive at the NCTJ said: “For over two decades, you have helped shape and update the very foundation of what the NCTJ stands for. Your dedication has ensured that we remain steadfast in our mission to train and support the next generation of journalists and to encourage them to continue with their learning.
“The impact you have made will be felt for years to come, and for that, we are profoundly grateful.”
