Sports reporters

This senior qualification is aimed specifically at sports reporters and is designed to give them the ability to qualify without having to leave their sports desk role.

It examines all-round competence in a range of fundamental skills at a level appropriate to a sports reporter who has completed the basic training programme, gained the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism qualification - including 100wpm shorthand - and attained 18 months experience of working on a sports desk. Candidates may also have completed the NCTJ’s sports journalism exam, although this is not a compulsory requirement for sitting the NCE.

There are four parts to the NCE for sports reporters:

Sports Interview

Candidates must demonstrate the ability to interview a sporting figure and assimilate a briefing containing information from a number of different sources and consider pertinent lines of inquiry; formulate and work from a basic framework of questions; see the story in the round; follow up leads without losing the main thread of the story; ask questions in a form that encourages the interviewee to talk freely; think clearly under pressure; record information satisfactorily and unobtrusively without interrupting the flow of the interviewee; and produce accurate and well-written copy.

Candidates will be asked to write copy to a set length and to a deadline for either their newspaper or online website – dependent on what is asked for in the examination.

Sports Report

Candidates must demonstrate the ability to report the spoken word accurately and with an appreciation of news value; understand the sense and purpose of a speech by a sporting figure and take a selective note of its essential parts; write a report that is a balanced summary of the speaker’s own words (using an appropriate number of quoted passages) and render reported (indirect) speech in an acceptable form.

Candidates will be asked to write copy to a set length and to a deadline for either their newspaper or online website – dependent on what is asked for in the examination.

Newspaper Practice for Sports Reporters

Candidates must demonstrate they are conversant with day-to-day newspaper practice inside and outside the office; have a sound working knowledge of practical journalism, enabling them to respond to any given sports editorial situation; are able to apply to sports reporting the principles of media law and public affairs; have a good working knowledge and understanding of a wide range of sports; and that they are able to brief senior and junior colleagues in clear, concise terms.

Candidates will be required to answer one media law questions and two follow-up questions.

Sports Logbook

This record of training and experience is specifically aimed at the candidate demonstrating they have covered a wide-range of sports desk duties, including live match reports, previews and reviews, collating round-ups, feature writing and basic subbing. The logbook should contain examples of work for both newspapers and online new media.

The object of the sports logbook is to ensure that all sports trainees gain sufficient and relevant sports desk experience during their first eighteen months to two years at work to prepare them to take the NCE with confidence.

As well as providing evidence of a competence in live match reporting, the sports logbook will demonstrate the candidate’s breadth of knowledge about a wide variety of sports, the ability to interview, use a wide range of contacts and sources, the ability to write clearly and concisely, the ability to complete basic subbing and the ability to work online and with video.

Guidelines on content, presentation and submission of logbooks are available from the Related Documents.

Marking procedure

Examination papers and logbooks are marked by a team of assessors who are or have been working journalists. They are then subjected to rigorous moderation to ensure consistency of marking.

The pass mark for each of the four sections is 60 per cent.

Candidates who fail the NCE must re-sit all sections for which they achieved less than 60 per cent. Passes of 60 per cent or more are carried forward.

Re-sits for the sports interview, sports report and newspaper practice for sports reporters sections are available on NCE exam days. Failed logbooks may be re-submitted at any time.

After each NCE the NCTJ publishes an examiners’ report which includes advice for future candidates. Trainees are strongly urged to read it and note its recommendations.

Related

Logbook guidelines for sports reporters (PDF, 69.70 Kb)

Aims & Objectives of the NCE for Sports Reporters (PDF, 52.08 Kb)

Replacement logbook pages (sports) (PDF, 179.35 Kb)