Katie Anderson and Alexandra Rucki both successfully completed the industry’s professional qualification for trainee journalists.
Katie completed the NCTJ-accredited fast-track course at Press Association, Newcastle, in 2010. She now works as a reporter for the Bognor Regis Observer. Katie, who received her results on her 25th birthday, said: “It feels great to have passed my NQJ exams and it was definitely an extra special birthday present. I had a lot of help and support from everyone in the newsroom in the lead up to my exams which definitely helped.”
She added: "Without the funding from the Journalism Diversity Fund I would not have even been able to start my journalism training. It gave me what I needed to be able to progress with the career I had always wanted to."
Alexandra, who won a bursary in 2010 to study an MA in Journalism at the University of Sheffield, is currently working as a reporter for Wandsworth Guardian. She said: “I’m delighted to have passed my NQJ and become a senior reporter. I’m really grateful to the Journalism Diversity Fund for funding my journalism postgraduate course and making this possible.
“Looking back a few years ago, I would never have thought this could have been possible.”
The NQJ for reporters is divided into four sections: an e-logbook; a news interview; a news report paper; and a media law and practice paper.
Trainees must complete at least 18 months employment before they are eligible to sit the exam.
Employers who support the programme register trainees with the NCTJ and an e-logbook, providing evidence of training and experience, is completed before taking the exams.
About the Journalism Diversity Fund
The NCTJ says: “The Journalism Diversity Fund was set up by those in the media industry who want to join together to support the training of journalists from ethnically and socially diverse backgrounds.
Editors recognize it is vital that journalists reporting the news reflect the communities they serve. The fund is aimed at people without the financial means to attend NCTJ training courses. Courses are run at universities, colleges and private training providers across the UK.
The fund is sponsored by the Newspaper Licensing Agency, Associated Newspapers, The Scott Trust and BSkyB, and supported by The Guardian, Pearson and the Society of Editors.
Applicants can be sixth formers, graduates, mature students, or professionals looking for a career change, but all need to demonstrate a genuine commitment to journalism and the potential to be successful.”
