Double success for Press Association Training
The UK's top two awards for young reporters have been lifted by former Press Association trainees.
Matt Sandy of the Mail on Sunday was the first to climb the podium to carry off the title of national Young Reporter of the Year at the British Press Awards.
Trainers at the Newcastle Centre were delighted for Matt who came on the course as an award winning student journalist.
His triumph was then followed by Dan Warburton, now chief reporter at NCJMedia in Newcastle.
Dan was named Young Journalist of the Year at the British Regional Press awards 2011.
Dan attended the course as a trainee sponsored by the Journal, Newcastle and has already been honoured in the North East Press awards by being named as the Tom Cordner Trainee Reporter of the Year in 2010.
Foundation Course leader, Paul Jones said:"To have one of our trainees named as a Yound Reporter of the Year is tremendous but to have done the double is remarkable.
"They were both great prospects and since leaving here, have gone on to do fantastic work for their papers.
"Well done both of them. I wonder what it would have been like if they had been on a course at the same time?"
Web-based shorthand training
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A new online shorthand training service has been launched to help trainee journalists reach the elusive 100 words per minute target.
The innovative Teeline training programme has been developed by Press Association Training to provide learners with an easy, convenient online training solution.
The live sessions mean the shorthand training can take place virtually anywhere you can connect to the web.
Trainees are able to see the tutor live, ask her questions, and receive dictation and feedback on outlines and progress.
Susan Nixon, who has been a shorthand tutor for more than 20 years, said: “We are excited to be able to offer this new way of building speed.
“Having timetabled sessions where trainees know they are making an appointment to learn, is an ideal way of keeping focused on the 100 words per minute target.”
Susan said she believes that support, feedback, advice and guidance from a tutor as if you were in the same room, will encourage trainees to confidently push toward exam success.
The courses run in 10-week blocks and take place for two hours at a time on Thursday mornings. Sessions will begin on May 19th 2011 from 10am – 12 noon.
To take part you will need:
- To be writing Teeline shorthand already at around 70 words per minute
- Have access to a broadband internet connection
- A PC or Mac with speakers or headphones, microphone and webcam
You need to buy-in to a minimum of 10 weeks of training. The cost for each 10 week course is £199 plus VAT.
To book your place on the course, go to www.pressassociation.com/training/courses/shorthand.html
Times of Malta journalists gain diploma
Congratulations to 13 journalists at Allied Newspapers in Malta who have been presented with their diploma in journalism at a ceremony in Valletta.
The presentation marked the end of two years hard work during which the journalists, from the Times and Sunday Times, attended training sessions with Press Association trainers Peter Sands, Andy Drinkwater and lecturers in Maltese law and government. They also had to work in a newsroom for 18 months, submit a portfolio of work, pass exams in journalism, government and law and write a dissertation on the impact of digital technology on the media in Malta. The journalists were mentored throughout by former Allied editors Victor Aquilina and Laurence Grech.
The Allied Newspapers Diploma in Journalism was set up in 2008 in partnership with Press Association Training who administered the training and accredited the award. It is the first time a practical diploma in journalism has been run in Malta. Allied was given a top national award - the Learning and Development Award at the Malta People Awards 2010 - for its investment in the diploma. Those receiving the awards were Juan Ameen, Cynthia Busuttil, Claudia Calleja, Valhmor Camilleri, Fiona Galea Debono, Christian Peregin, Ariadne Massa, Mark Micallef, Caroline Muscat, Joanna Ripard, Veronica Stivala, Matthew Xuereb and Rosanne Zammit. Special awards were given to Ariadne Massa (portfolio), Joanna Ripard (journalism exam) and Fiona Galea Debono (government and law exam). Well done to all of them.
More details here.
www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110205/local/the-times-journalists-receive-diplomas
Fresh-look for Highland newspapers
The new-look Inverness Courier and Highland News series has been rolled out. Press Association Training's consultant editor Peter Sands and designer Mike Brough worked with the staff at both titles to modernise the papers while ensuring their character remained undiluted. The changes were subtle. The bi-weekly Courier's script titlepiece was turned solid and made bolder, the display typography was changed from Dutch to Utopia Bold, the body copy made more readable, new artwork and a colour palette were introduced and the paper changed to an eight column broadsheet rather than ten-column.
The red-top Highland News, North Star and Lochaber News also had a revamp, including a change to their slab-serif title-piece. Sands said the changes were 'reviews' rather than full scale redesigns. "We concentrated on making the papers more readable and structured while retaining their traditional quirks and charm. It was great fun working simultaneously on an understated and traditional serif broadsheet and a full-on red-top tabloid. It was also rewarding to work alongside committed journalists turning out great papers that really matter to their communites and a management team looking to expand rather than contract."
Editorial director David Bourn, former editor at the evening News in Norwich and deputy editor of the Hull Daily Mail, was pleased with the changes. He said: "We were faced with difficult task of freshening up the papers, giving them a clearner, more logical and contemporary layout without losing the brand values and there is no doubt that Peter and his team have managed this - and some!
"Now we plan to do the same thing with the rest of the papers in our stable and, having seen the results of the redesigns of the Inverness Courier and Highland News series, the rest of our editors just can't wait."
(Left) The Old Inverness Courier
(Right) The new-look Inverness Courier
(Left) The Old Lochaber News
(Right) The new-look Lochaber News
New Look, new day for Newark Advertiser
The Newark Advertiser has a new day and a new look. The traditional weekly has undergone a makeover and brought its publication day forward from Friday to Thursday. They day was changed to give advertisements a longer shelf life before the weekend watershed. But the changes, which came into effect last week (September 9), have also had an immediate impact on sales with the biggest outlet, Morrisons, reporting an 11 per cent week-on-week increase.
The resign was carried out under the supervision of Press Association Training's Peter Sands and Mike Brough. The changes to the paper are subtle. The masthead retains its Ultra Bodoni typeface, but is enlarged with a shadow while splash heading caps are dropped in favour of lower case Century bold.
Sport takes over the back page, feature pages follow a magazine format and news pages now have a modular treatment with smaller lower-case headings.
Rodger Parlby, the Advertiser's chairman and editor-in-chief, said: "Peter Sands has given the paper a new dress while retaining its characteristic content".
"It is all a far cry from the ads-on-the-front broadsheet that formed the first Advertiser in 1854".
Sands said: "Making changes to the Advertiser was a delicate operation. The paper is steeped in tradition and clearly belongs to the community. We had to carefully modernise it while retaining its essence and distinctive look."
The paper's editorial in the relaunch edition said: A refreshed Advertiser strives to please relying on the solid foundation of years long gone. Samuel Wesley said it all way back in 1700 when he wrote: 'Style is the dress of thought, a modest dress neat but not gaudy will true critics please.'
London Foundation course to launch
The Press Association is to launch a new multimedia foundation course in
The new course will be based at the Press Association’s headquarters in
Tony Johnston, head of Press Association Training, said: “Our
“We are now launching an almost identical programme in
The course will be 17-weeks long, the same as the
Paul Jones, Press Association’s head of foundation training, who is leading the course, said: “The
“With the Press Association news operation just one floor above our training centre, we can recreate this culture at our
Delegates will study shorthand to 100 words per minute and complete the NCTJ Portfolio, News Writing, Public Affairs and Law exams as part of the course.
The course will start on August 31, 2010.
There will be two courses each year starting in February and August.
For more details about the course, see www.becomeareporter.co.uk
Swine flu scoop
A TRAINEE checking his emails between exams ended up landing a Swine Flu splash.
Ben Kenyon, 23, a delegate on Press Association Training’s Multi-Media Foundation Course in Newcastle, had just finished the first of two law exams when he picked up the story.
A contact had emailed to tip him off about the case of Swine Flu – the first confirmed in the North East.
Ben said: "My contact mentioned an email sent out by Newcastle University that said someone who shared a house with two students had been confirmed as having Swine Flu.
"I knew I had to get that email, but I only had about 45 minutes before the next law exam started."
So, instead of last-minute revision on defamation and contempt, Ben hit the phones and with only minutes to spare, the all-important email landed in his basket, standing up the story.
He said: "I had told the newsdesk upstairs and I sent them the email and the story I had so far, and went back into the exam room."
While Ben, who comes from Blackburn, was sweating it out with the NCTJ exam, the Newcastle Evening Chronicle was changing the splash.
By the time he emerged two hours later, Ben’s name was on the front page and the Chronicle desk was delighted.
Paul Jones, head of Press Association Foundation Course Training, said: "Ben did a great job. How easy would it have been for him to hand the story over because of the exams?
"Not a bit of it. He was determined to nail it himself and he did."
And as the rest of trainees headed to the pub for a well earned drink after the exams, Ben went back to ringing his contacts to try for the follow-up for the Newcastle morning title, The Journal.
The Newcastle University graduate, who is soon to finish the 17-week course, is still looking for a job.
He said: "I’ve really loved being involved with the papers here in Newcastle, but I’m desperate to start doing this for real."
Mr Jones said: "Times are tough, but even so, I’ve every confidence in Ben getting his break. That’s if he’s passed his law exams, of course."
Newcastle Course is top of the league
The Press Association foundation course in Newcastle is officially the best in the country according to new league tables published by the NCTJ.
Our course was the best performing commercial fast track course in the tables published by the industry awarding body.
It is the first time that the NCTJ has officially published rankings of the 70 courses it accredits based on exam results.
The National Council for the Training of Journalists said the course was the best-performing last year, with 56 per cent of students gaining at least a C-grade in the preliminary certificate, which is widely seen as the industry standard for new entrants.
The winners in the league tables were revealed last night at a dinner for journalism trainers in Salford, Greater Manchester, ahead of the NCTJ's journalism skills conference.
Tony Johnston, Head of Press Association Training, said: “We have always thought that our course was the best fast-track course in the country and now it has been recognised officially.
“It is testimony to the dedication of all the trainers and staff at the centre who work so hard to make sure our trainees succeed in their chosen profession.”
Highbury College in Portsmouth was named the best fast-track course run by a college or university, with 30 per cent of students meeting the industry standard.
The preliminary certificate includes modules covering news writing, media law, public affairs and shorthand.
The course is embedded in the offices of NCJ Media in Newcastle, publishers of the Newcastle Chronicle, Journal and associated websites.
It celebrates its 40th anniversary next year and has been the starting point for the careers of many of the UK’s leading journalists, including Andrew Marr from the BBC.
For more information, please contact the press office on +44 (0)20 7963 7528 or send us an email via the contact form.
Diploma launch in Malta
A new diploma training programme for the Times of Malta has been launched by Press Association Training.
The diploma is a practical qualification that is recognised by the global newspaper industry. It is based on the Press Association’s award-winning diploma scheme which is now used by Northcliffe newspapers, Thomas Crosbie Holdings, Trinity Mirror, The Times, The Daily Telegraph and many others.
Peter Sands, consultant editor for Press Association Training, who is leading the Diploma, said: "We are delighted to be working with the newspapers in Malta at this exciting time in their development.
"Our diploma training programmes have been used by a wide variety of clients with great success and I am sure this will be the same with Allied Newspapers."
College media project launch
Press Association Training has teamed up with Newham College in East London to launch a new project to help young women understand more about how the media works.
The project has been developed in partnership with mWorld, a youth lifestyle education organisation.
The students will be able to gain units towards their National Open College Network (NOCN) qualifications.
The 18 students will be working in the Press Association training centre on the 6th floor in Vauxhall Bridge Road for three consecutive Thursdays in March and April.
The remaining nine weeks of the project, called Girls Using Media, are being taught in the college by Press Association trainers.
All the students taking part are enrolled on Newham College’s Get on Track programmes, Young Parents and Making Choices in the Entertainment Industry.
These re-engagement programmes inform and provide young people with an access route back into education, training or employment.
Tony Johnston, head of Press Association Training, said: “The course began last week with a visit to PA in London and a tour of the newsroom and weather department.
“The young women were fascinated by what they saw and have already begun determining what content will be in their magazine and what it will look like.
“For them to have a chance to work in a real news and media environment is a unique opportunity and they are already buzzing as they get to work on the magazine.”
Ti Majek, mWorld Media Trainer who is heading the course, said: “This visit has stimulated student interests further and provided them with the essential building blocks to begin the project”
“The students really enjoyed their visit and are looking forward to returning in March to really get stuck in to the production of the magazine.”
The pilot programme is already attracting interest from other London colleges.
Lead story success for trainee
A TRAINEE on the Press Association Foundation Course in Newcastle has landed a scoop that has sparked reaction from Whitehall to Scotland Yard.
Times trainee Alexi Mostrous delivered an exclusive splash for his paper about the financial details of thousands of Britons being sold on the Internet.
The story was all the more remarkable for having been found, researched and written by Alexi while he was still completing his studies on the 16-week training course.
Alexi is nearing the end of his stint and like the rest of the course has his hands full with learning shorthand, public administration and law – though this last subject should not prove too testing for him as he is a former barrister.
He said: "After the loss of the HMRC child database, I wanted to see exactly how criminals bought and sold confidential information on the web.
"I discovered there were hundreds of Internet sites where fraudsters could advertise stolen credit card or pin numbers.
"A bit more research brought up actual bank details on more than 30 people around the UK. They were offered as free 'samples' to encourage criminals to place big orders.
"I downloaded the information, contacted the people concerned, passed everything on to the Metropolitan Police and the Information Commissioner, and wrote up the story."
Course leader, Paul Jones, said: "This was a tremendous achievement for Alexi and it was all his own work.
"He found the site selling the details and had been monitoring it for some time. It was a great scoop and the excitement on the course about it was electric.
"We have had a great run of page leads in the Newcastle papers this course including three splashes in the morning paper but to get a national front page lead is rather special."
As Alexi was in Newcastle on the day his story was used, he only found out that it was the splash when he heard John Humphrys reading it out on the Today Programme.
"There was a certain amount of jumping about the room at that point I can tell you," he said.
