Wolverhampton College students celebrate success

Students from the NCTJ-accredited course at City of Wolverhampton College gathered to celebrate their success on Friday at a graduation ceremony organised by the college.

The 12 journalism students studied for the NCTJ’s Diploma in Journalism on the academic year course at the college.  Eight students achieved the ‘Gold Standard’ of A-C passes in the diploma subjects and at least 100wpm shorthand.

They were presented with their awards by NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher at an event for students, parents, staff and editors.

The majority of students are already working as trainees on newspapers across the region, including the Express and Star, Hereford Times, Leamington Observer, Redditch Standard and the Stoke Sentinel.

The student of the year award went to Rebecca Carr, who is now a trainee on the Kidderminster Shuttle.

College vice principal John Stretton said: “We are very proud of our status as the NCTJ’s  best performing academic year accredited course in Further Education colleges. This course is highly recognised by industry and each year we get employers from across the area contacting us looking for journalism students to employ.”

Two students from the 2011 graduating cohort, Jon Pritchard from the Shropshire Star and Ian Murphy from NewsTeam International, spoke about how they had secured jobs in such a competitive market.  Other graduates from last year’s cohort have jobs on the Burton Mail, the Evesham Journal, Cotswold Journal and Shropshire Star.

Midland freelance journalist Christine Challand entertained the audience by regaling amusing stories of her interviews with some of the region’s best-known celebrities.