First senior journalists complete NCTJ Leadership and Management for Journalists qualification

Abbey Maclure and Kit Gillet have become the first to complete the NCTJ’s Leadership and Management for Journalists qualification, following its launch in 2024.

Developed in response to industry demand, the level 7 qualification is designed for editorial leaders in the early stages of their management career so they can manage and develop their teams effectively within the unique demands of a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

The qualification aims to enhance and improve the quality of leadership and management across the industry, creating more effective editorial leaders and managers trained to an industry standard.

Abbey Maclure Picture James Hardisty.

Abbey Maclure, vertical specialist editor at National World, said: “I’m thrilled to have completed the NCTJ Leadership and Management for Journalists qualification with a distinction. I began the course shortly after taking on a new role as an editor, and the content has been incredibly helpful in shaping my knowledge and leadership approach.”

Abbey, who was named NCTJ trainee of the year in 2022 for her results in the NQJ exams, added: “It was a rewarding but challenging year, particularly leading up to the assessment, so I’m really chuffed with the results.”

Kit Gillet

Kit Gillet, who has spent the last three years as an editor at Business Insider, said: “This course is great for editors new to leading a team, or those like me who have been doing it for a while but learnt on the job.

“It was invaluable when it came to understanding core management theories and practices and also allowing the time to analyse my own approaches to newsroom leadership, and where I could improve.”

Lyn Jones, head of qualifications at the NCTJ, said: “We’re delighted to celebrate these first two graduates who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to developing their leadership skills.

“Their success shows the real value of structured, industry-specific leadership training for journalists moving into management roles.”

The qualification is targeted at early-career editorial managers with approximately two to three years of journalism experience. It can be studied via e-learning via the NCTJ’s Journalism Skills Academy, allowing working professionals to develop their leadership capabilities alongside their current roles.

The NCTJ recommends that candidates have completed the Level 6 National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ) before undertaking the leadership programme.

For more information about the qualification, including eligibility and enrolment, click here