Tag Archives: NCTJ

BU Journalism graduate named NCTJ’s Alumni of the Month

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A recent journalism graduate from Bournemouth University has been named as an industry body’s Alumni of the Month.

Rachel Bartlett completed the BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism degree at BU in 2010, and is now editor of journalism.co.uk, a popular site for journalism news, innovation and resources.

She was chosen as the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ (NCTJ) Alumna of the Month for March and was profiled on the industry body’s website, talking about the course and her career.

Rachel told the site that she chose to study Multimedia Journalism at BU as she wanted to gain a broad range of skills, as well as the opportunity to take the NCTJ preliminary journalism exams.

“My decision was driven by the fact that I was keen to ensure I entered the industry with a range of skills across media platforms, including newspapers, magazines, television, radio and online, and the ability to study for, and take, her NCTJ exams at the same time,” she said.

“I went to university fairly open-minded about what area of the industry I wanted to go into, and the variety of the course helped guide me in terms of which areas I was most interested in.”

She added that gaining industry experience while studying was vital, as was learning shorthand – despite the wealth of digital technology available.

“While passing the NCTJ arguably helps to demonstrate that you can reach certain standards in your reporting, I would also stress the huge importance of also gaining real industry experience, being able to demonstrate a proactive attitude in finding original, relevant stories, and show some digital prowess and awareness of the different ways people are finding and consuming journalism today.”

Read Rachel’s interview in full on the NCTJ website

NCTJ conference hosted at Bournemouth University

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Bournemouth University Media School academics were joined by a host of journalists, guests and peers for this year’s National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) Conference.

The conference, hosted at BU, brought about thought provoking discussion around the culture of journalism in a Post-Leveson climate and the sorts of skills that journalism graduates need in a multimedia, digital newsroom.

Stephen Jukes, Dean of BU’s Media School, said, “We are hugely proud of our NCTJ connections and the performance of our students in those exams every year.

“This is a really exciting time to be studying journalism, a really pivotal time where we have either seen the end of 300 years of free press or we are seeing the start of a re-evaluation of the practices of journalism and purge of some of the darker styles of the tabloid trade.”

John Ryley, Head of Sky News, gave the opening address to the conference and said, “All  the technology in the world counts for nothing without that essential element – good journalism.

“I believe that journalism can, and indeed should be, a force for good by shining a light on those things that perhaps people would prefer to remain hidden.

“Training is what separates professional journalists from so-called citizen journalists. It should also instil a value of doing the right thing, and the rights and wrongs of good practice.”

A number of industry professionals also took to the stage to give their thoughts on the current UK media climate, including two Bournemouth University BA Multimedia Journalism graduates; Ollie Joy, who now works for CNN, and Rachel Bartlett, editor of journalism.co.uk.

Study Multimedia Journalism at BU!

NCTJ Journalism Skills Conference hosted at BU

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The sixth annual NCTJ Journalism Skills Conference is to be hosted by Bournemouth University between 27 and 28 November 2013.

The conference is marketed as a ‘must-attend annual event for those who are passionate about quality multimedia journalism’. BU’s Multimedia Journalism course is accredited by the NCTJ.

Speakers at this year’s event include:

·         Mark Austin, journalist and presenter, ITV News
·         Peter Bale, vice president and general manager, CNN International Digital
·         Pete Clifton, executive producer, MSN UK
·         Ollie Joy, digital business journalist, CNN
·         Sandra Laville, crime correspondent, The Guardian
·         Frank Le Duc, editor, Brighton and Hove News and Latest TV
·         Andy Martin, deputy editor and head of news, Bournemouth Echo
·         Ian Murray, editor-in-chief, Southern Daily Echo
·         Liisa Rohumaa, journalism lecturer, Bournemouth University
·         Mark Russell, managing editor, GQ
·         Tom Thomson, managing editor, The Herald and Times Group
·         Andrew Wilson, head of the journalism foundation, BBC.

To book a place at the conference you can visit the NCTJ website.