Broadcast Journalism (NCTJ)
Are you a confident and assertive person with a potentially good voice? Do you follow the news - and long to communicate it?
Then you're probably already thinking about broadcast journalism.
You can now train to be a broadcast journalist, with NCTJ qualifications - online.
...in partnership with The Local Radio Company: Broadcast Journalism
You can now train to be a broadcast journalist, with NCTJ qualifications - online, on a course that is unique in the United Kingdom. Our course will give you one of the country's leading journalism trainers as your personal tutor and mentor. You will also receive tutorial support from Claire Jaggard, one of the UK's top voice coaches. And we will provide you with the guaranteed opportunity to do work experience with one of the UK's premier groups of commercial radio stations.
We have formed a partnership with The Local Radio Company. This means you will be offered two weeks at one of their stations - and if you do well, you may be in with a chance of a job with them at the end of the course.
This course has an excellent record of finding people jobs - and provides exactly the same qualifications offered by NCTJ-accredited colleges.
We have students who work for the BBC World Service, Sky News, Sky Sports, Capital Radio (London) and many other local and national broadcasting organisations in the UK and abroad.
It is NOT for those who are just thinking about broadcast journalism. It is aimed at people who want to be working for a radio station within the next 1-2 years. It is quite possible to complete the course in nine months - but you can take it more slowly if you have heavy commitments already.
Is this a proper course?
Yes, we are recognised by the UK Government and are fully accredited.
What does it cover?
You will cover all the subjects in the NCTJ syllabus:
FOUNDATION JOURNALISM
A journalist’s job and qualities
Notebook/record material discipline
Contacts book
What is news?
Sources of news
Industry organisations
House style
Contacts and how to make them
Interviewing – face to face and by phone
Newspaper terminology
How to write in newspaper style
The intro
Story construction
Use of quotes
Ofcom and the broadcasting codes of practice
Bread and butter news
Reference sources
Covering emergency services
Human interest stories
Feature writing
Covering local government
Working from press releases and handouts
Covering meetings and speeches
Obituaries
Political reporting
Schools and education reporting
Job finding
Your CV
Preparing for job interviews
Covering courts
Reviews
Fillers
Opinion writing
SPOKEN JOURNALISM
Technicalities
Your work attachment
Visualising your listener
General writing tips – use of language
Posture and breathing
Microphone techniques
Writing different types of stories
News flashes
Headlines
Copy stories
Voicers
Tasters
Live reports
Interviews
Questions and answers
Packages
PUBLIC AFFAIRS: CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
The UK constitution
The Monarchy
Parliament at Westminster
The legislative process at Westminster
Devolution
The UK Government
The political process
Elections
The European Union
The NHS
Social welfare services
Employment, training and economic development
Industry and commerce
The Utilities
The Treasury
The Home Office
Culture, Media and Sport
International relations and defence
PUBLIC AFFAIRS: LOCAL GOVERNMENT
How different authorities are structured and what they do
Councillors and officers
Decision making, information and quality
Propriety and ethics
Elections
External relations and controls
Finance
Housing
Education
Town and country planning
Personal social services
Emergency services
Environmental health and consumer protection
Highways, transport and leisure
LAW (Separated as: Law 1, Court Reporting; and Law 2, General Reporting)
Introduction
Copyright
Confidentiality
Inquests
Defamation
Children involved in crime and the courts
Sexual offences
Judicial Proceedings Act 1926
Public Order Act 1986
Classification of crimes
Criminal prosecution process
Contempt of court
Photography in and around court
Ethics and the PCC Code of Conduct
Employment Tribunals
Official Secrets Acts
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1984
Wards of Court
Covering elections
Journalist’s sources
Divorce law
Magistrates Court and Crown Court procedures
Magistrates Court reporting restrictions
Court appeals procedures
Admissions to courts
Challenging courts
Human Rights Act 1998
Freedom of Information Act
Data Protection Act
Civil Courts
Bankruptcy law
Witness anonymity in court
How long will the course take?
It's up to you. You can work at your own speed, and fit your studies around your other commitments. But as a rough guide, this course takes around nine to 12 months to complete.
Is there any tutorial support?
Yes, you can email your tutor any time - as often as you need to. This is really helpful in the run-up to the exams. We guarantee to respond within two working days, although it is usually much quicker. We will phone you if there is an issue that cannot be dealt with by email. In this course, you will get tutorial support for:
All aspects of your studies
Marking your assignments
Coaching for NCTJ exams
Marking mock exam papers
Finding work attachment
Finding work
Preparing for job interviews
Career guidance 
