NCTJ launches award to encourage and recognise innovation in journalism education and training
In times of great change in the media industry, the NCTJ is launching an award to encourage and recognise innovation in journalism education and training.
In times of great change in the media industry, the NCTJ is launching an award to encourage and recognise innovation in journalism education and training.
The new award is part of the NCTJ’s ambitious strategy to change and enhance the industry’s long-established accreditation scheme and the way the charity and employers work together with the best universities, colleges and independent providers in the UK.
The Innovation of the Year Award recognises the unique contribution NCTJ centres make to the education and training of journalists on accredited courses. It is open to centres that have improved upon – or extended beyond – current expectations of best practice in education and training.
Speaking on the day of the launch, Andy Cairns, NCTJ trustee and chairman of the accreditation board and executive editor of Sky Sports News, said: “We’re constantly looking for ways to encourage centres to keep improving. This award, to recognise those who firstly have bright ideas and then successfully introduce them, shows how much importance we place on innovation.”
Entries can cover any new education and/or training initiative relating to journalism training and education, for example, a new approach to teaching and learning, curriculum development, apprenticeships, diversity, skills, digital developments, regulation and ethics, professional development or strategy.
Entrants should provide information about the aims and objectives of the innovation, why it was pioneering or ground breaking, challenges that had to be overcome, achievements or improvements made, the benefits and any positive impact on staff and/or students.
The judges will consider evidence of how the innovation has been developed and applied to improve performance, operational effectiveness or learners’ experience, and brought something new to journalism education and training. In shortlisting and in making their choice of the winner the judges will look for originality, improvements in best practice and significant benefits or impacts.
The closing date for entries is 15 September 2017. The award will be presented at the NCTJ’s awards for excellence in November.
Awards enquiries
For further information, contact Kimberley Holland, NCTJ events and training officer, at kimberley.holland@nctj.com.
