Students inspired to pursue a journalism career after studying NCTJ foundation certificate

Four students who have completed the NCTJ Certificate in Foundation Journalism taught by Brighton Journalist Works have been inspired to pursue a career in journalism by signing-up to the NCTJ-accredited Diploma in Journalism course.

Four students who have completed the NCTJ Certificate in Foundation Journalism taught by Brighton Journalist Works have been inspired to pursue a career in journalism by signing-up to the NCTJ-accredited Diploma in Journalism course.

The Certificate in Foundation Journalism was introduced by the NCTJ in 2014 and provides an introduction to journalism. It may be used as a first step for candidates considering a career in journalism or by those wishing to develop their journalistic skills for community reporting. Those who complete the full qualification will also be awarded 50 UCAS points.

Brighton Journalist Works was the first centre to pilot the level three certificate qualification. The centre ran evening classes over 20 weeks and delivered the qualification to A-level students at two local schools, Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College (BHASVIC) and Hove Park School Sixth Form.

BHASVIC students Liam Holister and Oliver Stevenson have already begun their diploma training with Brighton Journalist Works, along with Anna Clifford who completed the certificate through evening classes with the centre. Another evening class student, Kerry Brennan, plans to begin her diploma training in February 2016.

Liam Holister said: “I enjoyed it (the Certificate in Foundation Journalism course), it was my favourite subject at sixth form – hence my decision to take the journalist works course this year. I especially enjoyed taking the initiative to go out and find my own stories, it really felt like I was a professional journalist already”.

Paula O’Shea, managing director at Brighton Journalist Works, said: “We are really pleased our tutors have enthused students with the passion for journalism so they now wish to train to be journalists.

“The Certificate in Foundation Journalism has proved to be a great stepping stone for those considering journalism as well as providing learning and training for those wishing to use journalistic skills at university or in other work places. The students produced a school website and a supplement for The Argus while studying for the foundation course.”

Brighton Journalists Works plan to run another 20-week evening class beginning in October 2015 and will deliver the certificate qualification as part of a curriculum enrichment programme for Brighton and Hove Sussex Sixth Form College and Central Sussex College (Hayward Heath Campus).

If you are interested in studying the certificate qualification at a centre, please contact Brighton Journalist Works.

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