Journalist lands full-time reporter role through bespoke training partnership

Aspiring journalists in Jersey have been able to train and gain newsroom experience without leaving the island. 

 A bespoke training partnership between the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and the Jersey Evening Post (JEP) made this possible. 

Trainee journalist Daisy Morel joined the pilot All Island Media Academy at the Jersey Evening Post and is now continuing her career as a full-time junior reporter at the newspaper. 

 The programme combined remote training towards the Level 5 Diploma in Journalism with hands-on newsroom experience, allowing her to complete the qualification in under a year without leaving Jersey. 

Daisy said: “Being able to train in Jersey and work for the island’s biggest media brand at the same time has been such a valuable experience. I’ve been able to settle into full-time work and gain a transferable qualification in the field of work I always wanted to go into while gaining hands-on experience without leaving Jersey. 

“The idea of university was terrifying to me and at the time I thought it was the only way I could get into journalism, but I was wrong.  

“I have loved having the opportunity to meet loads of new people and network, cover heartwarming and inspiring stories and, more recently, report from the Royal Court after completing my court reporting module. I would always advocate for aspiring journalists to do it this way if they don’t like the idea of university, and I am so grateful that I have been given the chance to get stuck into every aspect of journalism so early in my career.” 

Daisy Morel in action. Photo: Dave Ferguson

Gemma Corfield, HR manager at the Jersey Evening Post, said: “We were delighted to work with the NCTJ to launch our pilot All Island Media Academy, creating an alternative route into journalism. The programme enabled participants to fast-track the Level 5 Diploma in Journalism while gaining valuable hands-on experience in the newsroom. 

“For us, the greatest benefit was the opportunity to invest in local talent and support aspiring journalists with a passion for telling the stories of our island communities. The remote-learning option was a key advantage, particularly as an island publication, allowing participants to gain valuable newsroom experience while studying for their qualification and removing the need to leave Jersey to pursue journalism training.” 

Laura Michael, head of professional development at the NCTJ, said: “Partnerships like this are a great example of how training can respond to the needs of individual newsrooms and create new opportunities for people to enter the industry. By combining professional training with practical newsroom experience, the All Island Media Academy has helped develop local talent and give aspiring journalists the skills and confidence to build their careers in Jersey. 

“It’s fantastic to see Daisy continuing with the Jersey Evening Post and contributing to the stories that matter to her local community. Supporting people to develop their skills and build sustainable careers in journalism is vital to the future of local news, and we’re delighted to have worked with the JEP to make this possible.” 

The NCTJ works with publishers and employers to develop training that meets their needs, helping aspiring journalists work towards professional qualifications alongside newsroom experience. 

Publishers and employers interested in developing a bespoke training programme with the NCTJ can find out more and get in touch at info@ncj.com