View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
August 19, 2004updated 22 Nov 2022 11:58am

NCTJ in bid to secure funding

By Press Gazette

Butcher: “significant change”

The National Council for the Training of Journalists is facing what could be the biggest shake-up in its 53-year history as it seeks to become part of the mainstream education system.

The body, which trains more than 1,300 people a year on its journalism pre-entry course, has always been independent of government control.

But it is now seeking accreditation which would give the NCTJ pre-entry and the senior journalist NCE test formal government recognition for the first time.

If the NCTJ fails to get government accreditation, it could mean the end of subsidies provided by education funding quango, the Learning and Skills Council, for the many NCTJ courses run by further education colleges.

These courses currently cost students as little as £500 because they get cash from the LSC – the true cost runs into thousands of pounds.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

According to the NCTJ, the move to get official accreditation has been prompted by a government bid to bring industry training within what it calls the National Qualifications Framework.

The Learning and Skills Council is understood to be reluctant in future to fund courses outside the NQF.

One journalism lecturer, who asked not to be named, said: “There is concern that if the courses lose government funding, it will price many would-be journalists out of the profession.

It would mean only those with rich parents could enter journalism.

Our students already have thousands of pounds of university debts and have to pay for the cost of supporting themselves during the length of the course.”

The NCTJ will have to comply with government standards on governance, expertise and quality assurance and a new accreditation manager is being appointed to oversee the project.

NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher said: “I am delighted that greater flexibility means that NCTJ qualifications can seek a place in the National Qualifications Framework.

Operating within the framework is a significant change for the NCTJ and I’m sure all our customers – including trainees and employers – will benefit.

“Accreditation for NCTJ qualifications is important to retain and enhance the level of respect and recognition that they currently enjoy.

“It will ensure that the increasing demands from journalists for lifelong learning, credit transfer and continuing professional development can be met. It will also make NCTJ qualifications eligible for funding and more accessible.”

Butcher said the NCTJ plans to get the necessary accreditation in place by next summer.

Chairman of the NUJ professional training committee Chris Wheal said: “The one group of people who regularly moan about journalism standards are politicians.

“If they want to do something about it they should put more money into journalism training. If this move makes sure there will be government funding for journalism training, it must make sense.”

By Dominic Ponsford

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network