NCTJ chairman uses annual report to ask: “What are we going to do about the big tech companies?”

Kim Fletcher, chairman of the NCTJ, has used the charity’s annual report to share his views about the big tech companies.

He said: “Few of us want to turn back the clock, whatever our misgivings about the models and morals of these mighty news businesses.

 “We’re pleased to have developed partnerships with Google and Facebook, sharing the benefits of remarkable technologies with direct application to newsgathering.”

Joanne Butcher, NCTJ chief executive, referenced the recently announced Community News Project, in which the NCTJ will be playing a lead role in partnership with regional and local publishers in the Facebook-funded project.

She said: “With its focus on training and qualifications, diversity and inclusion, the project aligns perfectly with our strategic objectives. It also sits perfectly alongside the Journalism Diversity Fund, which we are scaling up so that we can help more people into journalism.

“Our involvement in such a high profile and large-scale project must not distract us from our other important business. We are conscious we must move quickly to take advantage of new opportunities and to take action when it’s needed.”

The NCTJ’s annual report showcases some of the charity’s activities throughout 2017-18 and includes the publication of the gold standard Diploma in Journalism and National Qualification in Journalism results.

It also covers work on accreditation, qualifications, innovation, diversity, events, awards, careers and developments as well as a financial review of the year.

Click here to read the full report.