Purpose
The NCTJ offers accreditation, recognised throughout the industry, for aspiring and junior journalists. The accreditation consists of preliminary exams ('prelims'), which are undertaken either before the candidate begins work as a reporter or shortly afterwards, and the NCE, which is usually taken between 18 months and two years after beginning work on a newspaper. On completion of the NCE, the candidate is regarded as a fully qualified senior reporter by the newspaper industry. However, these courses also provide transferable skills for other industries, such as public relations, publishing, the film and television industries (especially for researchers), marketing, among others or even further study elsewhere. The NCTJ is a level three award.
The NCTJ is a private and commercial organisation.
NCTJ alumni include Mark Austin, controversial and frequently fired editor Piers Morgan, Kay Burley, John Inverdale, Geordie Greig and Helen Skelton.
As well as being the examining body, the NCTJ offers short training courses to refresh candidates' knowledge prior to them sitting NCTJ prelims or the NCE, and also for professionals looking for related training.
The NCTJ is also a professional awarding body recognised by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulator Ofqual.
Read more about this topic: National Council For The Training Of Journalists
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—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
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