Trainees Take Inaugural Web Exams

Students in Poole have become the first in England to sit exams for the new Online and Video Journalism qualification accredited by the NCTJ.

Five trainees on the Up to Speed Journalism course took the exams, which comprised shooting video packages as well as writing articles for the web and other platforms such as text message and news tickers.

Holdthefrontpage.co.uk reports that nine other training centres will now offer the course to students next year.

“It’s still early days in the great newspaper rush to use multimedia on their websites,” commented Lloyd Bracey, chief examiner for online reporting at the NCTJ.

He added: “No one’s sure how - or even if - it will settle down, but there are already some ‘givens’ - skills the journalist must have - and this qualification covers some of those key competencies.

“The certificate has been devised after extensive consultation with the industry, so it helps journalists know what they need to know.”