The pass rate for the first National Qualification in Journalism exams was 1 per cent higher than the last National Certificate Exam, which it has replaced.
National Council for the Training of Journalists figures show that 59 out of 110 journalists who took the exam passed in March.
Some 53 per cent of entrants to the last NCE exams in November passed – up from 45 per cent last March.
Included in the new exam is a compulsory section on ethics which, according to examiners, produced some “excellent answers”.
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The pass rate for the media law and practice section was 57 per cent, 48 per cent for the news report, 54 per cent for the news interview and 98 per cent for the logbook.
The Luton News reporter Connie Primmer won the Ted Bottomley Award for media law and practice, Victoria Prest of the Ripon Gazette won the Esso Award for her news report, the Barnet Press’s Daniel O’Brien won the Society of Editors’ Award for his news interview and Timothy Harris of the Aldershot News & Mail won the Newsquest Award for his logbook.
“So far, feedback received from candidates who took the NQJ exam said they preferred the new format, which in part reflects concerns over ethics in journalism, puts more emphasis on social media and has an improved focus on media law,” said chief examiner Steve Nelson.
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“This was a huge change in the examination process and followed many months of consultation and trials. I am delighted to see that the results are broadly the same and that candidates appear to be unanimously in favour of the new format.
“In particular, the decision to introduce a specific section on ethics produced some excellent answers to demanding questions.
“The numbers sitting the national exam rose again slightly to reach the highest figure for two years.”
Here is a full list of those who passed the exam:
- David Allison, Sunderland Echo
- Juliette Bains, Yorkshire Evening Post
- Matthew Brooks, Worksop Guardian
- Michael Lee Brown, Bridlington Free Press
- Peter Bryant, Surrey Advertiser
- Matthew Bunn, Evening Star
- Ian Burbidge, Northants Evening Telegraph
- Laura Burnip, Llanelli Star
- Chloe Chapman, Evening Echo Newspapers, Basildon
- Sophia Charalambous, Essex Chronicle
- Sam Christie, News Shopper
- Graham Clark, Newmarket Journal
- Georgina Cotton, Courier Newspapers
- Ian Craig, Wiltshire & Gloucester Standard
- Natalie Dearman, Herts & Essex Observer
- Andrew Dickens, Cambridge Newspapers
- John Dickens, Slough & Royal Borough Observer
- Joe William Finnerty, Surrey Advertiser
- Martyn Fisher, Diss Express
- Zoe Forsey, Watford Observer
- Claire Louise French, Surrey Advertiser
- Karl Bruce Hansell, Whitby Gazette
- Timothy Harris, Aldershot News & Mail
- Amie Keeley, East Anglian Daily Times
- Sean Keywood, Exmouth Journal
- Cheryl Livingstone, Press and Journal (Aberdeen)
- Adam Maring Lord, The Visitor
- Emma Mackintosh, South Wales Argus
- Christina Massey, Matlock Mercury
- Hannah McLaverty-Williamson, Sutton Guardian
- Jacqueline McMillan, Evening Echo Newspapers, Basildon
- Claire McWethy, Courier Media Group
- Alexander Stewart Moore, Rutland and Stamford Mercury
- Rebecca Mortimer-Ricks, The Herald, Plymouth
- Rachel Naylor, Congleton Chronicle
- Victoria Newman, Shields Gazette
- David Nichols, Wakefield Express
- Daniel O’Brien, Barnet Press
- Katie Ollier, Congleton Chronicle
- Helen Patchett, Newmarket Journal
- Victoria Prest, Ripon Gazette
- Connie Primmer, The Luton News
- Kirsten Elizabeth Rawlins, Express & Star
- Lucy Roue, The Sentinel
- Finn Scott-Delany, West Sussex County Times
- Christopher Daniel Seal, Barry & District News
- Laura Smith, Bury Free Press
- Claire Smyth, Western Gazette
- Carri-Ann Taylor, Braintree & Witham Times
- Sophie Taylor, The Herald, Plymouth
- George Peter Thorpe, Chelmsford Weekly News
- Andrew Trendell, Worksop Guardian
- Neil John Watts, Worcester News
- Matthew Wilson, Stratford-upon-Avon Herald
- Emily Winsor, Nottingham Post
- Alan Woods, News Shopper
- Lucy Wright, Eastern Daily Press
- Thomas Wright, Weston Worle & Somerset Mercury
- Elizaveta Young, Western Telegraph
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