Comments on: Boycott the NCTJ? If only. http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/ A conversation. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:45:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kelly http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1324 Kelly Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:55:11 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1324 *right. *right.

]]> By: Kelly http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1323 Kelly Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:53:23 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1323 Thank you so much for your above comments. I'm primarily a magazine features/creative writer and I'm about to retake my Reporting exam for the second time. I try very hard under exam conditions and I am aware of the rigours of news writing, but I always seem to be on the cusp of passing. It's hard to pin point why i've struggled and others on my course have not. It has knocked my confidence, but I'm determined to persevere. You are write the Reporting mark scheme is incredibly perscriptive. It's a fiendish exam to pass. Here's hoping though as I achieved well in everything else. Thank you so much for your above comments. I’m primarily a magazine features/creative writer and I’m about to retake my Reporting exam for the second time.

I try very hard under exam conditions and I am aware of the rigours of news writing, but I always seem to be on the cusp of passing. It’s hard to pin point why i’ve struggled and others on my course have not. It has knocked my confidence, but I’m determined to persevere.

You are write the Reporting mark scheme is incredibly perscriptive. It’s a fiendish exam to pass. Here’s hoping though as I achieved well in everything else.

]]> By: Toby http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1322 Toby Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:36:21 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1322 Hi Abbie I am doing the NCTJ short course in newspaper journalism, to answer your question this is the reply I got when I talked to my lecturer about holding down a job at the same time "Are you serious do that and you will fail". Doing the course is a propper slog but worthwile I just passed Law part 1 and have all the rest of my exams in January; considering we started in Jan that's pretty mental. Also Just to let you know unless you have a photographic memory you can kiss goodbye to your social life! Hope this helps cheers TJ Brown Hi Abbie
I am doing the NCTJ short course in newspaper journalism, to answer your question this is the reply I got when I talked to my lecturer about holding down a job at the same time “Are you serious do that and you will fail”. Doing the course is a propper slog but worthwile I just passed Law part 1 and have all the rest of my exams in January; considering we started in Jan that’s pretty mental. Also Just to let you know unless you have a photographic memory you can kiss goodbye to your social life!
Hope this helps cheers TJ Brown

]]> By: Greenslade, McNair, Butcher? The NCTJ debate http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1321 Greenslade, McNair, Butcher? The NCTJ debate Mon, 13 Sep 2010 20:47:02 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1321 [...] And what the AJE said about the issue in 2007 [...] [...] And what the AJE said about the issue in 2007 [...]

]]> By: tyler durden http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1320 tyler durden Sat, 07 Aug 2010 13:36:37 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1320 the reason people fail news writing is because they are not good enough. unfortunately you've all been brought up in an education system that panders to your every whim and convinces you that you are better than you are in reality. stop blaming the nctj for your inability to pass a straightforward exam. the reason people fail news writing is because they are not good enough.

unfortunately you’ve all been brought up in an education system that panders to your every whim and convinces you that you are better than you are in reality.

stop blaming the nctj for your inability to pass a straightforward exam.

]]> By: Paul Bradshaw http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1319 Paul Bradshaw Thu, 22 Jul 2010 08:52:39 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1319 The NCTJ has a list of universities that offer courses but I don't think it says whether they are part time, etc. Probably best to contact the NCTJ directly. The NCTJ has a list of universities that offer courses but I don’t think it says whether they are part time, etc. Probably best to contact the NCTJ directly.

]]> By: Abbie http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1318 Abbie Thu, 22 Jul 2010 07:56:47 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1318 Hello, I am seriously considering the NCTJ course, however there is no information out there on places/universities that allow part-time study in the evening so that I can work during the day. Does anyone have any information that could prove useful in my hunt? This blog is very interesting to read, and has helped a lot in my decision so thank you to all! Hello,

I am seriously considering the NCTJ course, however there is no information out there on places/universities that allow part-time study in the evening so that I can work during the day.
Does anyone have any information that could prove useful in my hunt?

This blog is very interesting to read, and has helped a lot in my decision so thank you to all!

]]> By: John http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1317 John Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:14:46 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1317 Hi there. I passed everything including 100wpm, except this exam. I tried it for a second time and had 46. Very disappointed. I can't help thinking for trainees the bar is too high if some 50% of the country are consistently failing. I didn't feel it went brilliantly but possibly worthy of a C. Also, I worry now won't be able to get a job or start losing some of the other skills, which would be completely counterproductive. Furthermore, if so many are failing - then I think it would be wise to include extra sittings for this exam rather than only having two national dates in November and April. It is unfair. Also, I don't want to say bad things about the NCTJ, because overall they do a good job but the marking on this exam needs to be seriously looked at. If industy experts are failing, that's the same as a top class racing driver failing their driving test, which quite frankly - is mad. Hi there. I passed everything including 100wpm, except this exam.

I tried it for a second time and had 46. Very disappointed. I can’t help thinking for trainees the bar is too high if some 50% of the country are consistently failing.

I didn’t feel it went brilliantly but possibly worthy of a C.

Also, I worry now won’t be able to get a job or start losing some of the other skills, which would be completely counterproductive.

Furthermore, if so many are failing – then I think it would be wise to include extra sittings for this exam rather than only having two national dates in November and April. It is unfair.

Also, I don’t want to say bad things about the NCTJ, because overall they do a good job but the marking on this exam needs to be seriously looked at.

If industy experts are failing, that’s the same as a top class racing driver failing their driving test, which quite frankly – is mad.

]]> By: Ann http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1316 Ann Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:11:49 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1316 The NCTJ is on the eve of dying out. With savage cuts set to hit higher education institutions, universities won't be able to afford to splash out on this old-fashioned and struggling organisation for much longer. The NCTJ is on the eve of dying out. With savage cuts set to hit higher education institutions, universities won’t be able to afford to splash out on this old-fashioned and struggling organisation for much longer.

]]> By: Ben http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1315 Ben Thu, 03 Jun 2010 09:51:44 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/the-nctj-marketing-not-education/#comment-1315 Thanks JB for your kind comments -- yes, it's a toughie. TBH I only decided to take the exam at a late stage so am not completely surprised I failed. News is a strange one for me because I have a background as a magazine editor, and the NCTJ is not even known (let alone regarded badly or well) by many people in this strand of journalism. I am studying the course via distance learning as an intellectual challenge, and news writing is not really something I will need in my future career. Nonetheless I believe (with the NCTJ) that it is a necessary basic skill all journalists should hold. Just felt it went really well and doubly frustrated to be so near a pass. Appreciate it is hard for the markers as well, although the irony is that I wrote a complete dog's dinner of a PA2 paper for them and got the top mark. This makes me worry a little about their marking standards, because there is no way that paper was worth an A, compared to my News Writing D. Oh well, guess I just need to keep on keeping on. That's life. Thanks JB for your kind comments — yes, it’s a toughie. TBH I only decided to take the exam at a late stage so am not completely surprised I failed.

News is a strange one for me because I have a background as a magazine editor, and the NCTJ is not even known (let alone regarded badly or well) by many people in this strand of journalism. I am studying the course via distance learning as an intellectual challenge, and news writing is not really something I will need in my future career. Nonetheless I believe (with the NCTJ) that it is a necessary basic skill all journalists should hold.

Just felt it went really well and doubly frustrated to be so near a pass. Appreciate it is hard for the markers as well, although the irony is that I wrote a complete dog’s dinner of a PA2 paper for them and got the top mark. This makes me worry a little about their marking standards, because there is no way that paper was worth an A, compared to my News Writing D.

Oh well, guess I just need to keep on keeping on. That’s life.

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