Chairman of shorthand board to step down after 10 years’ service
Sheffield College shorthand tutor Marie Cartwright was thanked for years of dedicated service as she attended her last shorthand seminar as chief examiner and chairman of the shorthand board on Tuesday, 9 June.
Sheffield College shorthand tutor Marie Cartwright was thanked for years of dedicated service as she attended her last shorthand seminar as chief examiner and chairman of the shorthand board on Tuesday, 9 June.
Opening the annual shorthand seminar, NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher paid tribute to Marie as an “amazing” chief examiner and presented her with flowers in front of fellow shorthand tutors and members of the shorthand board.
Marie has been chief examiner and chairman of the shorthand board since 2005 and has been involved with the NCTJ as a shorthand tutor for over 20 years. She will be most recognisable to students as the author of Teeline Gold for Journalists, the core textbook for NCTJ candidates. Although stepping down from the chief examiner role at the end of the academic year, Marie will remain a member of the shorthand board.
Joanne said: “Marie is an exceptional talent, totally dedicated to journalism students and trainees, a loyal servant to the NCTJ and a pleasure to work with, an advocate and practitioner of fairness, consistency and high standards. She has led the modernisation of the NCTJ’s shorthand exams over the last 10 years”.
She added: “Marie has listened to the industry and listened to shorthand tutors, always taking a balanced view to improve our exam format and procedures. She has helped so many people master the skill of learning shorthand, not just her own students in Sheffield, but many others who have used her wonderful book, Teeline Gold Standard for Journalists”.
The seminar, held at De Morgan House in London, also featured contributions from Kentish Gazette editor Leo Whitlock and Whitstable Gazette reporter Dan Wright as guest speakers. Leo described shorthand tutors as the “unsung heroes of every newsroom” and said editors still looked for 100 words per minute shorthand as a benchmark of trust and accuracy.
The event also provided an opportunity for shorthand tutors to exchange ideas about teaching techniques, motivating students and developing subject materials.
Picture: Marie Cartwright (left) with NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher.
