Elective options

This double module covers the additional skills required to operate effectively as a broadcast journalist in television and radio. Trainees will learn how to research, write and produce high-quality reports for radio and television. It will also instil a degree of familiarity with the technology, techniques, language and regulation of broadcast journalism and teach some practical skills. It should reflect the best current practice in broadcast newsrooms in the UK.

The aim of the broadcast journalism assessment is to ensure trainee broadcast journalists:

• can research and write clear, accurate, compliant and engaging stories for radio and television
• understand the techniques of interviewing for broadcast and can conduct a simple broadcast interview themselves
• can demonstrate familiarity with the basic techniques and technology of broadcast newsgathering, including the sourcing of material
• have an awareness of the basic set-up of radio and television news studios and can operate simple radio and television equipment
• can show a good working knowledge of the key principles of broadcast regulation as laid out in the Ofcom Broadcasting Code

are familiar with the language and terminology of a broadcast newsroom In writing, good grammar, spelling and punctuation are expected

Work will be legally sound and comply with broadcast regulation. The programme of study covers: writing for broadcast; voice training; interviewing; newsgathering and digital media; broadcast production techniques including editing and graphics; broadcast regulation; the language and terminology of broadcasting; and how news is consumed.

Candidates are required to submit one piece of coursework, take two practical, timed tests and sit a one-hour broadcast regulation exam.

The business and finance option takes the principles of general news reporting covered in the reporting syllabus and applies them to the full range of business and finance reporting. It ensures candidates can produce the different types of story for all platforms required from each part of the business and finance news discipline.

Business and finance reporters need excellent contacts to break exclusive stories, be able to write attention-grabbing features, analytical features and interview major business and finance figures. Live, breaking news is an important element of reporting in this sector with a need to file copy in a series of “takes” for various platforms as the story unfolds. At press conferences, it is important to be able to challenge any business and finance changes to explore how this will affect, staff, unions and the public.

This module equips candidates with sufficient understanding of both domestic and international politics and economics to be able to report on a wide range of issues relating to business and finance, and to do so with the ability to humanise complex subjects, making them accessible to a general audience. Business and finance journalism focuses on all the macro areas of the discipline, such as the history, background and current state of the global banking and financial crisis. But it also introduces candidates to the coverage of the subject at a very micro level. A thorough knowledge of business and finance organisations is also tested.

Candidates will sit a two-part business and finance journalism examination: part one is a live business/finance report based on a scenario emerging and part two is a written exam.

The programme of study includes: the roles of B2B, general consumer and specialist consumer magazines; the importance of identifying and writing for an audience; company accounts; the roles of editorial, marketing, advertising and other departments; revenue streams; editorial strategy; and means of distribution.

Assessment is by examination in which candidates answer questions covering the full syllabus.

Please note: The business of magazines elective module is being withdrawn from the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism from 31 August 2021 for new registrations, following an industry-wide review of the elective modules for this qualification. It is replaced by the practical magazine journalism double module. The unit end date for the module is 30 September 2023. Please see published transition arrangements below.

Business of magazines transition arrangements

This option builds on the introduction to the subject in the essential journalism module. It is about learning the knowledge and skills to operate as an audience-focused data journalist.

It will provide knowledge of how to find data, analyse that data in the most efficient way to find great stories, how to visualise the information found and go on to develop the data into content which will appeal to readers and viewers.

Core skills and knowledge of researching, interviewing and telling stories, which will engage with the audience, are vital.

Assessment: candidates will sit a 1-hour and 15 minutes online exam designed to test a candidate’s knowledge and skills in handling a large data set. They will be expected to identify major potential stories and lines of inquiry from the data, outline how that story would be developed by way of gathering further information and provide visuals which would support the story.

They will also submit a piece of data journalism coursework. Published on appropriate platform(s), using any appropriate program(s), the submission will include the completed piece(s) of content with appropriate visuals produced by the candidate.

This single module will enable trainee journalists to understand some of the methods employed by PR staff with whom they will come into contact. It will also help to prepare them to work at a junior level in public relations and use professional techniques and tools to produce a basic PR campaign; and create accurate and effective news releases suitable for publication in a variety of media outlets.

This module is assessed by a two-hour online exam: candidates are required to produce a basic campaign strategy, including key messages and detailed tactics and produce a 300-word news release targeted at the local media.

This option builds on the introduction to the subject in the essential journalism module. It is about learning the knowledge and skills to operate as an audience-focused digital journalist in a multimedia newsroom.

It will provide knowledge of how to make the most of a website CMS, how to make improvements to sites to enhance the user experience, how to build and execute strategies-based audience data, interacting with the audience, making the most of illustrations/video, how to develop brands, the behaviours needed by someone in these roles and how they can continue to develop skills once in the workplace.

Assessment: candidates will sit a 1-hour and 15 minutes online exam designed to test a candidate’s knowledge, understanding and practical application of the skills and knowledge learnt in this module. Questions will be set from all areas of the programme of study.

They will also submit a piece of digital journalism coursework. Published on appropriate platform(s), it will contain evidence of how analytics were used, SEO, digital writing skills, use of illustrative material and social media.

The specialist court reporting option builds on an introduction to court reporting in the essential media law syllabus. It covers court reporting restrictions, regulatory and ethical considerations. It is an important option for those who wish to focus on hard news for any platform as courts remain an excellent source for stories.

Assessment is by one examination which assesses knowledge and application of media law related to court reporting.

The photography specialist option is designed to equip a trainee journalist with the photography skills required to produce images of publishable quality that meet industry standards.

Candidates will be able to:

• demonstrate skills, knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of stills photography
• gain practical skills in image capture on still digital formats and the transmission of stills
• be competent in producing stills for publication • demonstrate the ability to write clear and accurate captions and news stories
• understand photographic practice and media law and ethics relating to the publication of images from both professional photographers, citizen journalists and other external sources in newspapers, magazines and on related websites

Assessment is by a portfolio of images including a 150-200 word news story and evidence of any ethical and legal considerations when taking or publishing the images.

Candidates opting to take this unit are also encouraged to take videojournalism for online. Video skills are vital to be able to create distinctive videojournalism which is accurate, clear and communicative and compliments the skills gained in stills photography in this unit.

This double elective option provides candidates with the opportunity to learn and practise storytelling skills on multiple platforms in the magazine industry. It will be studied alongside the core journalism skills of the diploma. Key to the proficiency of a magazine journalist is the ability to generate fresh, original ideas that are relevant to the targeted audience and in a variety of sectors including consumer, B2B, specialist, customer and in-house supplements. 

Assessment: candidates will produce a real-world feature through a combination of coursework and a timed assessment called the ‘magazine day’ which will be conducted under newsroom conditions and will be published online.

The PR and communications elective option is available to candidates alongside the mandatory subjects of the entry-level NCTJ Diploma in Journalism.

This programme of study will enable trainee journalists to understand the objectives, strategies and tactics employed by PR staff with whom they will come into contact. It can also prepare them to work at a junior level in public relations.

Candidates are assessed by a two-part exam over two and a half hours.

This specialist editing option builds on the introduction to editing in the essential journalism syllabus. Editing skills are an important skill as journalists publish stories without the luxury of copy being checked. The culture of getting it right first time needs to be instilled into trainees.

The programme of study includes: desktop publishing, editing different types of stories; headline writing; typography; pictures and captions; proof reading; and design.

Candidates sit an on-screen editing exam for a templated page in print and online and must produce online headlines, edit a selection of stories and nibs, write a sell-on and demonstrate the ability to crop and edit a picture story.

All professional journalists should have a broad understanding of how government works at a local and national level, how they link together, where news stories come from and how to develop such stories.

Public affairs learning should be integrated with practical journalism and trainees must have an awareness of current news issues related to public affairs.

There are three different programmes of study and examinations for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Candidates are required to sit an exam which assesses their knowledge of public affairs and its practical application to the job of a journalist.

This single module will equip candidates with the essential skills to work as journalists in radio newsrooms. It will be studied alongside the core journalism skills of the diploma.

Candidates will learn how to research, write and produce high-quality reports for radio. 

This module is assessed by two exams and coursework:

• Radio News exam: practical exam testing candidates’ ability to produce and record a two-minute news bulletin from material provided for a given market audience
• Broadcast regulation exam: one-hour exam to test practical knowledge and application of the relevant sections of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. Candidates are examined on the Ofcom Code rather than the wider legal framework which is assessed in essential media law and regulation
• Coursework radio news package

Shorthand is an extremely valuable skill for the competent journalist. The NCTJ’s gold standard is to achieve at least 100 words per minute (wpm) and to be able to identify a newsworthy quote. The exam format for higher speeds has been developed to test listening skills as well as accuracy and speed.

The syllabus enables learners to acquire the skills required for reporting accurately using Teeline, an industry-recognised system of shorthand. The exams test the ability to take down the spoken word verbatim at a range of speeds – 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120 wpm – and to produce an accurate transcript within an error tolerance of three per cent. In addition, trainees must identify and accurately transcribe a key quote at speeds of 90 to 120wpm.

The sports journalism option takes the principles of general news reporting covered in reporting and applies them to the full range of sports reporting skills.

The programme of study includes: an introduction to sports reporting; the sports news cycle; press conferences and interviewing; sports news, sports public affairs and sports politics; sports features; and editing sports stories.

The exam is divided into two parts. For part one, candidates will watch a football match and produce a match report filing 250 words within five minutes of the final whistle. Candidates will then have a further 30 minutes to produce a 200-word ‘reaction piece’ using quotes and tweets from managers and/or players/fans, supplied to them at the final whistle. For part two, candidates write a 200-word round-up, answer a sports interview question and write a story for the web from a press release.

This single module will equip candidates with the essential skills to work as journalists in TV newsrooms. It will be studied alongside the core journalism skills of the diploma.

Candidates will learn how to research, write and produce high-quality reports for TV. 

This module is assessed by two exams plus coursework:

• TV News exam: Candidates are required to script and edit two ‘news in brief’ (Ulay/OOV) items from given material
• Broadcast regulation exam: one-hour exam to test practical knowledge and application of the relevant sections of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. Candidates are examined on the Ofcom Code rather than the wider legal framework which is assessed in essential media law and regulation
• Coursework TV news package

The videojournalism option is designed to enable trainees to produce short, focused video news reports for use online on news websites and social media and to understand how to use the platforms effectively. Creativity is encouraged, but work should be to industry standards.

The four study units cover: equipment and techniques; videojournalism and news gathering; interviewing; and regulation and compliance.

Candidates sit a two hour video-editing examination which assesses their basic editing and reporting skills and ability to drive traffic to a news website using video with subtitles through social media. They are also required to submit a coursework assignment at the exam, which assesses their ability to create a video package for a website and a social media video demonstrating how they would use it to drive traffic to a news website.