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Course wins glowing NCTJ report

Press Association Training’s Foundation course in multi media journalism has received a glowing report from assessors from the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

It extended the course’s accreditation for three years and heaped praise on the exam pass rates, employment record and the quality of the training on offer on the 17 week course.

The Newcastle training centre was acquired by Press Association Training from Trinity Mirror in January 2006.

Since then the numbers of trainees has grown considerably and the centre now trains new journalists from national and regional newspapers across the UK.

The centre was assessed by editors working for the NCTJ and they said in their report: “This is a course that is bang up-to-date in terms of addressing the industry’s expectation of newsroom recruits while retaining a traditional approach to passing on the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to function as a professional reporter.

“Trainees are selected on the basis of their personal qualities and passion for news; they are expected to work hard, not whinge about shorthand, go the extra mile and behave in accordance with standard workplace practice.

“Those on the course respond well to this no-nonsense approach and recruiting editors respond well to trainees who present themselves at interview with both the right skills set and the right mind set.”

The panel was also impressed with the exam results achieved by the centre. In many of the exams, pass rates were 100 per cent, more than exceeding the NCTJ’s proposed benchmark for a “course of excellence”.

Tony Johnston, Head of Press Association Training, said: “We are delighted that the quality of the Newcastle foundation course has been so clearly recognised in this accreditation survey.

“We believe the course is the best in the UK at producing the right quality of trainees for the industry. We are delighted to receive the backing of the NCTJ and look forward to working with them to ensure the high standards are maintained over the next three years.”

26- 06- 2008

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