Journalism Courses

There was a time when newspapers would take you on as a trainee and then send you on a course to learn how to do the job, but this does not really happen anymore.

Because of the competition, you now need a pre-entry qualification to stand a realistic chance of getting a job.

NCTJ-Accredited

Make sure your course is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). The NCTJ is not perfect, but its courses are seen as the gold standard for industry training.

I have met too many people doing work experience who are doing a course in journalism or media studies that isn't NCTJ accredited and think this will lead to a job as a trainee reporter. Often these courses seem to involve looking at journalism in a theoretical way, and this will not help you do the job.

You want to be able to come out of the course being able to write shorthand at 100 words per minute, with NCTJ qualifications in media law, public affairs (how local and central government work) and newspaper writing. If the course you are looking at does not offer all these things then do not go on it.

The exception to the NCTJ-only rule is City University, which has the reputation of having the best journalism training in the country and boasts media commentator Roy Greenslade among its staff. Its alumni reads like a Who's Who of British Journalism, although its fees are not cheap.

Degree or Diploma?

The most common route into journalism is to get a degree in a non-vocational subject and then go on to do a diploma. But another option is to do a degree in journalism - again, this should be NCTJ-accredited - and go straight into a job from there.

You could argue that taking a degree in journalism means you spend more time studying it and you get into a job more quickly. But personally, I would advise that a pre-entry diploma is likely to be more impressive.

"A lot of people assume that a degree in journalism or in a journalism-related subject is a key to getting into the profession," according to Bath Chronicle editor Sam Holliday, "but in my experience a pre-entry certificate is a far more enticing qualification for a student to hold. In my opinion a pre-entry certificate, whether allied to a degree or not, is the nearest thing we have to a passport into our profession."

Chris Walker, regional managing editor for Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales, agrees. "I never advise anyone to do a journalism degree," he said. "Without doubt there are some good courses out there, but the bottom line is that they are academic courses not vocational training ones."

Also, only a limited number of universities run NCTJ-accredited courses. If you have the academic background to get into one of the very best universities then personally I think it would be a shame to go to one that is not as prestigious - and will not look as good on your CV - just because you have your heart set on the subject. Besides, a non-vocational degree also gives you the chance to hedge your bets. You can spend three years deciding for sure whether journalism is the career for you.

Length of Diploma

If you decide to go for a pre-entry diploma, you then have to decide whether to spend a year studying for it or to go on a fast-track course.

An important factor in this decision is where you can afford to live, and it may be that you simply choose the college that is nearest your parents' house so you can save on rent and utility bills.

If you do have the choice, bear in mind that there is a lot to learn on a diploma so do not rush into a fast-track one if you think you may end up failing. But for intelligent people who are good at learning and prepared to work hard, the fast-track courses are definitely achievable.

If you are confident you can pass a fast-track course, then this will give you the chance to get into a newsroom more quickly. And while NCTJ courses do give you the tools you need to be a journalist, they cannot compete with what you learn by doing the job.

Financial Help

Many people on a journalism course find that they struggle financially. If you are in difficulty and have secured a place on a training course but not started it yet, you may be eligible for a bursary from the Journalism Diversity Fund. Also, the George Viner Memorial Fund Trust gives financial support to British students from black and Asian backgrounds.

If these are not an option, it is worth calling your local council to see if they can offer you any financial support.