First sitting of brand new NCTJ qualification

The first sitting of a brand new qualification, the NCE for sports reporters, takes place on Friday.

Three trainee reporters will sit the examination which has been designed by the NCTJ in response to the growing number of trainee journalists who are joining sports desks sooner than in the past, many while still trainees.

Dave King, NCTJ chief examiner in sports journalism and editor of the Swindon Advertiser, has led the development of the new qualification.

Dave said: “The new NCE for sports reporters has a very important part to play in the training of journalists. It is about raising and maintaining standards for an area of journalism which has changed more than most in recent years.”

The new qualification mirrors the long-established NCE for reporters, consisting of sports report, sports interview, a logbook of published sports copy and newspaper practice for sports reporters.

Its introduction follows the successful launch of the preliminary examination in sports journalism in 2008.

187 candidates will sit the NCE for reporters, sports reporters and sub-editors on Friday with 100 helpers and volunteers playing a role in making the day run smoothly.

Volunteers are needed to take a role as news interviewees and assessors at future NCEs. If you feel you can help and give trainee journalists the chance to progress their careers, contact Beverley Rhodes at beverley.rhodes@nctj.com