More than three-quarters of trainee journalists who sat their senior exams have passed in a record high for the new format.
Fifty-eight out of 76 candidates (76 per cent)passed their National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ) after exams were held across seven centres in July.
It’s the highest pass rate in the 11 sittings since the NQJ was introduced three years ago to replace the National Certificate in Journalism (NCE), beating March’s 74 per cent pass rate.
Journalists can apply for their seniors after a minimum of 18 months training and are assessed on their interviewing, reporting, media law and ethics as well as a portfolio of stories.
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Candidates must be successful in all four parts to pass.
Chief examiner Steve Nelson said: “I am full of admiration for today’s trainee journalists, who are not only multi-skilled and operating on various platforms but also required to show thorough knowledge in ever-expanding areas of media law and ethics….
“The attainment of the industry’s professional qualification remains a key moment in the careers of these journalists.”
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There was a record 83 per cent pass rate for the news interview paper, with 59 successful candidates from the 71 who sat the exam.
Examiners said shorthand standards appeared to be better, but warned against some candidate’s habit of merging bits of different quotes and presenting them as a verbatim quote.
“This would irritate a person being quoted and candidates must ensure their shorthand is up to the required speed to take down full quotes accurately,” the examiners said.
The next National Qualification in Journalism exam will take place on Friday, 4 November. The closing date for enrolment is Friday, 23 September.
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