NCTJ celebrates 70 years of excellence in journalism training
The National Council for the Training of Journalists is this year celebrating its 70th anniversary.
The National Council for the Training of Journalists is this year celebrating its 70th anniversary.
The NCTJ was established in 1951 to deliver the newspaper industry’s training scheme, following the findings of a Royal Commission on the Press.
Seventy years on, the NCTJ serves all media, and is dedicated to providing world-class training that equips journalists with the skills needed in a fast-changing multimedia industry, at all stages of their careers.
Joanne Butcher, chief executive of the NCTJ, said: “The NCTJ is recognised as one of the most important journalism-related organisations in the UK, synonymous with quality, trust and diversity, values we as a society need to protect and promote more than ever before.
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“The last decade has been a time of extraordinary change when the NCTJ has broadened its knowledge base, moving far beyond its traditional skillset of press journalists to incorporate multimedia, digital and data-driven journalism.
“We now enjoy the support of an enormous range of stakeholders and a more secure and diversified funding base from which to deliver our charitable mission and objectives.
“In the next exciting decade ahead, we will continue our vital work to ensure journalists from all walks of life are well-trained, industry-qualified and trusted.”
Despite the challenges faced during 2020, the NCTJ had an extraordinary year. Launching the Journalism Skills Academy, celebrating fifteen years of the Journalism Diversity Fund and using cutting-edge secure proctoring technology to enable learners to sit exams remotely were just some of the highlights.
The NCTJ plans to make its platinum anniversary year one of its biggest yet, with a number of schemes such as the Community News Project and Journalism Diversity Fund scaling up, and an overhaul of its internal and external digital platforms.
Training providers from across the UK will also be invited to a special anniversary Journalism Skills Conference, which will return for 2021.
This month, the Diploma in Journalism will be launching as an e-learning offering on the Journalism Skills Academy, providing distance learners with an accessible multimedia experience and creating an online community for them to connect and support one another.
The NCTJ will also be unveiling a new and improved website in the autumn, alongside an innovative centre management system which will streamline processes for the NCTJ and training providers alike.
A new edition of Public Affairs for Journalists will also be published this summer, following publication a brand-new title Essential Journalism, which offers a practical guide to all aspects of modern journalism for NCTJ learners.
The NCTJ will continue to encourage people from all backgrounds to consider a career in journalism through valuable resources such as its careers guide and virtual summer school masterclasses.
The charity is also planning a nationwide campaign to inspire trust in trained journalists, after a year which demonstrated more than ever the importance of quality journalism.
And, of course, it wouldn’t be an anniversary year to remember if there wasn’t a celebration of shorthand in some way so watch out for a special announcement in July!
Celebrations are kicking off with a call for alumni past and present to dig out their NCTJ certificates and share them on social media using the hashtag #myNCTJ.
Join in with the fun, and send your anniversary well wishes to the NCTJ on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
