NATIONAL QUALIFICATION IN JOURNALISM. Examiners Report

Transcription

1 NATIONAL QUALIFICATION IN JOURNALISM Examiners Report March 2015

2 NATIONAL QUALIFICATION IN JOURNALISM March 2015 In March, a total of 90 candidates sat the National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ) across nine centres. The NQJ was awarded to 65 candidates a pass rate of 72 per cent. AWARD WINNERS TED BOTTOMLEY AWARD (MEDIA LAW AND PRACTICE 250) Sponsored by Midland News Association Katie Dickinson The Westmorland Gazette This was an outstanding paper. It included a near-perfect answer for question 2, plus excellent ones for questions 1 and 3. Katie not only showed good knowledge of law and ethics, but she also expressed it with clarity. She picked up on the problems and explained logically how best to deal with them. To drop only nine marks is exceptional. Well done. ESSO AWARD (NEWS REPORT 250) Edmund Crosthwaite East Anglian Daily Times Edmund produced a story containing all the key content, written in a logical and very readable fashion, underpinned by some excellent ideas in part B. Overall, he demonstrated a high level of news sense. Congratulations. SOCIETY OF EDITORS AWARD (NEWS INTERVIEW 250) Charlotte Austen-Hardy Chelmsford Weekly News Charlotte is a worthy winner. Her interview copy told the story in a straightforward, easy-to-follow manner with good chronology. She captured the drama very well. Her use of quotes was excellent. NEWSQUEST AWARD (LOGBOOK 250) Jonathan Robinson North West Evening Mail This was an excellent logbook and a great example of the standards we expect to see from candidates. The most pleasing aspect of Jonathan s submission is that he delivered some of the basic key tasks very well. Tasks such as family events, writing to pictures and numeracy were delivered in a strikingly clear but engaging way and we have no hesitation in naming this entry as our award winner 2

3 The following candidates, listed in alphabetical order by surname, have now gained the National Qualification in Journalism. Forename Surname Company Tom Ambrose Richmond & Twickenham Times Rhodri Andrews Bracknell News Megan Jane Archer Wiltshire & Gloucester Standard Sophie Arnold Leigh Journal Charlotte Austen-Hardy Chelmsford Weekly News Christopher Baynes Croydon Guardian Henry Bodkin Aldershot News & Mail Peter Michael Brown North Devon Journal Sophie Brownson South Wales Argus Hannah Bryan Gazette & Herald Tara May Cox Dorset Echo Edmund Crosthwaite East Anglian Daily Times Jeremy Culley The Bolton News Cara Cunningham Knutsford Guardian Katie Dickinson The Westmorland Gazette Sean-Paul Doran Sevenoaks Chronicle Charlotte Duncker Congleton Chronicle Christopher Dyer Essex Chronicle Lucy Elder Maidenhead Advertiser Jonathan Evely Rutland and Stamford Mercury Ben Fishwick The News, Portsmouth Dominic Gilbert Swindon Advertiser Faye Greenwell North Devon Journal Richard Guttridge Express & Star Jenny Hanson The Western Telegraph Michael Havis Hertfordshire Mercury 3

4 Neil Hawkins Evening Echo Newspapers, Basildon Lauren Howard Hampshire Chronicle Charlotte Ikonen Watford Observer Lee Irving Dorset Echo Benjamin Joel Jackson North West Evening Mail Andrew Jameson Croydon Advertiser Rebecca Jones South Wales Evening Post Joseph Kasper Dover Express Dean Kilpatrick Folkstone Herald Luke Matthews Maidenhead Advertiser Kathleen Moore Hexham Courant Danielle Anne Morris Somerset County Gazette Lauren Nash Hunts Post Grace Newton The Retford Times Chad Nugent Harwich & Manningtree Standard Becky Parker Weston Worle & Somerset Mercury Katie Pavid Bristol Evening Post Rebecca Pearson Southern Daily Echo Elisha Pilmoor The News, Portsmouth Oliver Porritt Sevenoaks Chronicle Jamie Presland Henley Standard Katie Richardson The Northern Echo Joe Riddle Salisbury Journal Jonathan Robinson North West Evening Mail Natalie Robinson Cambridge News Thomas Scargill Halifax Evening Courier Vickie Scullard The Bolton News Fuchsia Singleton-Hoare Mid Somerset Newspapers 4

5 Alexander Smith The Sentinel Emily Stott East Kent Mercury Matthew Strudwick Surrey Advertiser Stephen Sumner Sidmouth Herald Laura Neve Tacey Halifax Evening Courier Anna Verdon Courier Media Group Nadejda Vidinova Evening Telegraph, Dundee Peter Walker Essex Chronicle Christopher Lawrence Warne Freelance Caroline Wilson Lincolnshire Echo Beth Wyatt Romford Recorder 5

6 CHIEF EXAMINER S SUMY A record-equalling 72 per cent of candidates in the March sitting of the National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ) exams were successful. It was the highest pass rate since the previous best-ever figure achieved in July last year. Of the 90 trainee journalists who sat the exams in centres across the UK, 65 were successful in achieving senior status. Chief examiner Steve Nelson said: I am absolutely delighted for these candidates. In offering my congratulations, I think it is worth reminding ourselves of just how tough these exams continue to be. Candidates face three exams Media Law & Practice, News Report and News Interview over the course of a day, on top of having to produce a logbook of material generated over at least an 18-month period. They are now invariably multi-skilled working across different platforms and are facing perhaps more pressure and requirements than ever before to be competent in dealing with legal and ethical issues. These requirements and abilities are all tested in the exams, which represent the gold standard in journalism. Special mention must be made of record-breaker Katie Dickinson, of The Westmorland Gazette, who achieved the highest-ever mark of 91 per cent in the Media Law & Practice exam. Her paper was described as outstanding and exceptional by the examiner and was selected as the award winner in this category. Congratulations also go to the other three award winners: Edmund Crosthwaite (East Anglian Daily Times) for News Report; Charlotte Austen-Hardy (Chelmsford Weekly News) for News Interview; and Jonathan Robinson (North West Evening Mail) for logbook. The award-winners each receive a 250 prize. MEDIA LAW AND PRACTICE 81 candidates; 67 passed 83 per cent This was a gratifying set of results, with the majority of candidates passing. There were some excellent answers that showed depth of knowledge of law and ethics and how these apply to working journalists. The main thrust of the law side of the paper required candidates to show how qualified privilege and the Contempt of Court Act 1981 works, plus where and when you can take photographs. With all reporters now taking photographs to accompany their reports, it is important for them to know the law, the Association of Chief Police Officers guidelines and ethics involved. In question 1 c) a number of candidates mistakenly thought the councillor s name and address should have been banned under Section 46 under the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 instead of Section 11 under the Contempt of Court Act. The clue was in the wording publicity would have a negative effect on his chances and when in proceedings the request had been made. To reflect the increased focus on ethics, both questions 1 and 2 had sections on the Editors Code of Practice to go alongside the pure ethics in question 3. By and large these were tackled well but candidates would increase their chances of getting higher marks if they not only correctly identified the relevant clauses, but also discussed when they came into play and how journalists/newspapers should behave to avoid censure by the Independent Press Standards Organisation. 6

7 A number of candidates made reference to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), which was good to see. Some included a case study from one of its adjudications, which showed up-to-date knowledge. Once again it was evident that a number of candidates did not give themselves enough time in which to tackle question 3. This resulted in rushed and superficial answers in which candidates identified the clauses of the Editors Code of Practice that came into play but did not apply them to the scenario. This question needs time in order to be able to give a rounded answer. As in previous exams, candidates with a good writing style and a logical approach tended to do better. A bullet-point approach when answering these questions is recommended but candidates will not be penalised if they do not adopt this technique. Examiners recommend that future candidates return to the latest edition of McNae s Essential Law for Journalists to brush up on defamation, contempt dangers and defences and court reporting restrictions. Regular visits to IPSO rulings and PCC adjudications and the Editors Code Book, along with the Judicial Studies Board s Reporting Restrictions in the Criminal Courts, would also be helpful. Despite candidates being able to take McNae s Essential Law for Journalists into the exam, it is only useful if they know what to look for. It appeared that some candidates did not know which sections to read to help them phrase their answers. IPSO has begun making its rulings, so markers will expect to see these reflected in future answers. However, candidates will still need to make references to Press Complaints Commission adjudications on breaches of the Editors Code of Practice that are still relevant to how the press behaves, such as Kirkland v Wiltshire Gazette & Herald and McCartney v Hello!. For those of you who passed, congratulations, and for those who did not, plenty of revision and good luck with your next attempt. NEWS REPORT 88 candidates; 66 passed 75 per cent The March news report featured a garage owner who was so impressed by the ambulance community first responder who saved his wife s life when she had a heart attack that he decided to fund a CFR team in the remote area where he lived. In part A candidates were asked to write a 350-word story using content from both the exam brief and a five-minute speech. Many candidates tackled this paper well which was pleasing to see and this is reflected in the 75 per cent pass rate for the section. However, examiners were disappointed to see some of the errors which appeared in stories. A number of candidates credited the CFR response figures for the previous six months to the entire ambulance service. Several stated garage owner Douglas Morrison s 16,000 donation as either 1,600 or in one case 160,000 and there were numerous errors about the vehicle he was donating. Some candidates also had a tendency to make incorrect assumptions. Accuracy is the hallmark of a good reporter and errors like these, particularly more serious factual errors, result in corrections needing to be published. 7

8 Quotes were a problem for many, indicating that shorthand may not be up to the required standard. Too many candidates were blending extracts and presenting them as direct verbatim quotes which is not acceptable. Part B was a mixed bag of both excellent and impractical ideas. When answering sections 1 (illustrative ideas for immediate publication) and 3 (additional comment in 15 minutes) candidates must produce suggestions which are capable of being completed within the timeframe given. In this case, it was essential to talk to the Morrisons to get their personal story and to arrange a picture of them. Congratulations to those who were successful. Advice for future candidates taking the News Report exam is to work on shorthand, avoid making assumptions and ensure you note the facts down correctly. NEWS INTERVIEW 78 candidates; 63 passed 81 per cent This was a straightforward story about a family pet dog attacking a three-year-old and leaving him in a critical condition with a fractured skull and other serious injuries. The child s mother, who had been having a shower when she heard barking and screaming, tried to rescue him from the clutches of the dog s teeth and suffered 40 stitches to her wounds. She managed to flee to the safety of another room in the house, barricade herself and the child in the room before smashing a window and screaming for help. A neighbour came to her aide and locked the dog out of the house seconds before it launched itself at the door. Overall, there were some good exam scripts submitted which is reflected in the percentage pass rate for this section. There was a lot of drama and good quotes to be had, yet many candidates got lost in the story, had poor chronology and some clumsy writing which lost them marks. The broken window caused confusion as some candidates had the neighbour climbing through it without explaining how it came to be smashed. Several candidates went overboard on comment this story did not need it, there was enough going on to carry it on its own merit. Some candidates did not ask the interviewee how to spell names, thereby losing marks and some did not include ages. Most got the mother s and the neighbour s quotes which was pleasing, but many did not manage to portray the drama. Other candidates had that the neighbour Mr Kenny rescued the mother and child. He shut the dog outside and then stayed with the pair until help arrived. But he did not rescue them in the sense of getting them out of the house. Well done to all those who passed this time. LOGBOOK 65 candidates; 65 passed 100 per cent We are pleased to report a high quality of logbook submissions and, two years since its inception, the e-logbook format has proved intuitive and easy for candidates to use. 8

9 There have been no major issues with any of our key tasks as those making entries have fulfilled all criteria well. However, candidates are reminded that where they are asked to include additional documentation via PDF or other format, or when they are asked to upload either a cutting or original copy, then they must double-check to make sure that this has been added. Candidates must also make sure that everything in their logbook is complete and the right documents for each key task have been uploaded correctly before submitting. Those undertaking the logbook who are unsure of anything should, in the first instance, seek help from their editor or trainer, or contact the NCTJ and we will be happy to give advice. 9

10 National Qualification in Journalism Comparative figures (Pre March figures are for the National Certificate Examination) TOTAL ENTRY NCE NCE NQJ NQJ NQJ NQJ NQJ NQJ NQJ No of candidates No of passes No of failures % passed FIRST-TIMERS No of candidates No of passes No of failures % passed RE-SITS No of candidates No of passes No of failures % passed National Qualification in Journalism Analysis of figures for each exam section (first-timers and re-sits) (Pre March figures are for the old style National Certificate Examination) NEWS INTERVIEW No of candidates No of passes No of failures % passed NEWS REPORT No of candidates No of passes No of failures % passed MEDIA LAW & PRACTICE No of candidates No of passes No of failures % passed LOGBOOK No of candidates No of passes No of failures % passed NCTJ