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A NEW joint journalism training council is being set up as a major new initiative to help develop journalism training for the converged multi media world.

Following discussions with senior executives in print and broadcasting organisations, representatives of the National Council for the Training of Journalists, the Broadcasting Journalism Training Council and the Periodicals Training Council have agreed that it is vital to identify common areas of training that will satisfy the requirements of employers in all sectors of the media.

In particular the representatives unanimously agreed that:

1. The new skills and awareness that are and will be required of journalists aiming to work in multi platform news organisations include:
a.    Basic knowledge and understanding of what convergence or multi-platform publishing means - the publishing of news content in various ways and implications for news gathering and story commissioning. 
b.    Developing ideas for repurposing and adding to print or broadcast news material for use on websites including the use of links, background material, writing for the website, the basics of search engine optimisation and use of basic content management systems.
c.     Using video and audio equipment to produce content for websites and other platforms and publishing it.
 It is recognised that this is not an exhaustive list and it is accepted that some employers may require specialist skills applicable to their principle platforms.

2       The representatives reaffirmed their commitment to the traditional core skills currently embraced by all accrediting bodies eg:  news sense, researching, interviewing, writing, media law, local and national government, ethics and codes of practice.  

3       The above will be informed by research currently being undertaken by the accrediting organisations which will also explore the feasibility of joint accreditation of training schemes, where appropriate.  For example, to save duplication it could be agreed that one accrediting body would deal with the agreed common criteria, plus its own platform specific criteria. 

4       The three organisations will establish closer links with each other, employers and training providers in a joint journalism training council which will review and develop common agreed criteria and identify areas that could be rationalised.

5       The task of the jjtc will be to set an agenda and timetable for how journalism training can be further converged to meet the requirements of the news media industries.  Initial tasks will include finalising membership and terms of reference of the jjtc. Initially, this will be organised by the Society of Editors and chaired by its out-going president Simon Bucks.

Joanne Butcher, chief executive of the NCTJ, said: "I am pleased the Society of Editors has brought the journalism training organisations and employers together to take action on new and converging journalism skills.  We now have a coordinated and joint approach to achieving the high journalism standards we are all committed to."

Jim Latham, secretary of the BJTC, said: "No question, this is the way forward. We have realistic, achievable
 targets and I think as a first priority we can deliver mutually agreed and accredited core skills pretty quickly."

Loraine Davies, director of the PTC said: “The PTC expects the new forum will make real progress for the benefit of publishers, media owners and student journalists." 
Society of Editors president Simon Bucks said: “I am delighted to announce this important initiative, It is hugely important step and the Society of Editors is again pleased to make a major contribution to the industry.”

Lebedev to open upbeat editors’ conference

Alexander Lebedev will deliver the Society of Editors lecture in Glasgow in November.

The prestigious annual lecture that has previously been delivered by politicians and some of the biggest names in newspapers and broadcasting opens the Society of Editors conference which will celebrate the huge achievements in meeting the challenges of the multi-media age.

Click here for full details

 

The Society of Editors works to protect the freedom of all sectors of the media to report on behalf of the public.

Society members share the values that matter:

• The universal right to freedom of expression
• The importance of the vitality of the news media in a democratic society
• The promotion of press and broadcasting freedom and the public’s right to know
• The commitment to high editorial standards