Over one hundred reporters sit senior exams

More than one hundred reporters sat NCTJ exams today hoping to gain senior qualification status.

One hundred and two journalists sat the National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ) for reporters and one sports journalist sat the National Certificate Examination (NCE) for sports reporters, which is due to be revised to the new NQJ later this year.

The NQJ and NCE are designed to examine all-round competence in a range of fundamental skills.

The topics featured in today’s papers included a suspected child abduction, a deer cull at a village estate, an armed robbery and allegations of corruption in a local council, while sports reporters covered the death of a high-profile cricketer, an interview with the manager of a speedway team and grand national sponsorship.

In order to gain senior status, all trainees must be able to extract information using excellent interview techniques, reproduce clear and concise reports in a style that attracts readers and demonstrate they are conversant with day-to-day newspaper practice inside and outside of the office.

The day progressed smoothly thanks to the help of numerous volunteers. The results will be made available in August 2013.