JOURNALISM PPR TICE IPS

Transcription

1 JOURNALISM HAYLEY ANDERSON ARCHANT LONDON DAN WRIGHT AT DOWNING STREET KM GROUP APPRENTICESHIPS

2 INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYERS Q: What is a journalism apprenticeship? A: The Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Journalism is the first apprenticeship scheme for journalists developed by the NCTJ and employers in the media industry. It is a professional, vocational training scheme that doesn t compromise on the exacting standards that are vital in modern newsrooms. Q: Why take on an apprentice? What are the benefits to my company? A: Apprenticeships give media companies the opportunity to recruit fresh, local talent to their newsrooms who reflect the social and ethnic mix of their communities. By employing an apprentice, companies can improve diversity in their workforce while having the opportunity to train an apprentice journalist to write for their publication and/or website alongside learning core journalism skills. The mixture of on and off-the-job learning ensures apprentices gain the skills and qualifications that work best for the company. This should lead to increased productivity, improved competitiveness and a committed and competent workforce. Q: How much does an apprenticeship cost? A: Government funding covers the full cost of apprenticeship training for year olds. For apprentices aged 19-23, the government funds half of their training costs and employers contribute up to 50 per cent. For those aged 24 and over, employers may only get a contribution. Apprentices are employed by you and they will earn a salary. Currently, the national minimum wage (NMW) is 2.68 per hour for those aged under 19 and in their first year of training. However, as skills develop, many employers tend to increase wages. The Apprentice NMW applies to all 16 to 18-year olds and to those aged 19 and over in the first year of their apprenticeship. Once they have completed the first year of training an apprentice should receive at least the full NMW rate for those aged ( 5.03 per hour). Q: Are there any grants available to help with the cost of hiring an apprentice? A: Government grants for apprentices are available. Companies with 50 employees or less may be eligible for 1500 grants for each apprentice they recruit. See for more information. Q: What are our responsibilities as an employer of an apprentice? A: Employers must provide an apprentice with an induction into the company and their new role, provide on-the-job training and pay their wages. Each apprentice must have a mentor in the workplace who will be responsible for helping them throughout their training. Employers must also sign an apprenticeship agreement, provided by the National Apprenticeship Service, which is a contract of service between the employer and the apprentice. Q: Is there a limit to the number of apprentices a company can take on? A: No, employers can employ as many apprentices as they like. Q: How often will the apprentice attend college and what qualifications will they achieve? A: Employers can work with their college training provider to arrange the most suitable format for training. Apprentices will usually attend college on a day-release or blockrelease basis. Apprenticeship training is linked to the industry gold standard and NCTJ pre-entry qualifications. On successful completion of their training, apprentices will receive an apprenticeship certificate and an NCTJ qualification that covers news reporting, essential media law and regulation, court reporting, essential public affairs and shorthand to 100 words per minute. They may also top-up their qualification by sitting the Diploma exams to gain the full Diploma in Journalism. This provides progression onto the higher level National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ). What current journalism apprenticeship employers say: Doug Wills, managing editor, London Evening Standard, The Independent, i and The Independent on Sunday: We believe that these journalistic apprenticeships will help to meet the challenge of giving keen and talented youngsters from a wide social spectrum an opportunity to break into the media. Ruth Gardiner, acting controller, BBC radio production: In an industry where advances in technology are constantly changing how we make and receive radio programmes, this apprenticeship will offer classroom and on-the-job training with an emphasis on the multi-platform skills required of programme makers today. 2

3 TRAINING PROVIDER CASE STUDY Roz McKenzie, head of journalism, Lambeth College The journalism apprentices attend Lambeth College, an FE college based in Clapham, south London, once per week on a Friday during the college term time. The apprenticeship runs for two years, starting in late September. Apprentices are from employers including BBC Radio 4, The Independent/Evening Standard/i, Archant London and Kent Messenger Group. In year one, the apprentices are trained in shorthand, law and reporting for online and print. In year two, they will be trained in public affairs, some broadcast and sub-editing as well as being accompanied on court trips. At the end of the two years, they will have a dual qualification, ie, the NCTJ Advanced Apprenticeship in Journalism and the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism Practice. The apprenticeship is assessed through a mix of workplace assessments, classroom assessments and NCTJ Diploma exams. Apprentices are expected to reach 100wpm shorthand by the end of year one, as well as passing NCTJ exams in essential media law, court reporting and reporting. By the end of year two they are expected to have passed essential public affairs, production journalism and the e-portfolio plus further workplace assessments. All work carried out in the workplace is recorded in a logbook to be signed off as each competency is reached. Three workplace assessments are carried out over the two years by a journalism assessor. Progress reviews, where a tutor comes out to the workplace, are carried out three times a year to check on the progress of the apprentice, address any concerns the employer or apprentice might have and set individual targets. Forums for employers, once to twice a year, are arranged to discuss how the apprenticeship is delivered in the workplace and at college, and to agree any changes. Support for recruitment, usually in the form of promotion, is also offered by the college, but it is employers who make the decision over who they employ. The advantage of work-based learning from the college s point of view is that apprentices apply what they have learned in the classroom into the workplace immediately. 3

4 EDITOR AND APPRENTICE CASE STUDY ARCHANT LONDON Laura Adams, editorial director, Archant London The apprentice scheme has enabled us to recruit directly from within the communities in which we serve, and to employ trainees who already know the patches they will cover, as well as the newspaper titles for which they will work. On-the-job training is an attractive option in that we can teach key skills that they will need in their future career for example, the importance of shorthand and a thorough knowledge of media law. Finding a local person with huge passion and enthusiasm for journalism has been the main benefit of the scheme, and seeing her develop her skills and knowledge has been wonderful. However the downside is that the apprentice needs thorough on-the-job training and a news editor must take the time to mentor properly. In the early days, it can also leave a gap in skills on the reporting team. However, we feel that investing time in the development of that person ultimately brings huge rewards. Our apprentice s enthusiasm has been infectious in the newsroom and has had a positive impact on team morale. It has also been a learning curve for her mentor, as she has a sense of pride seeing her develop. Our apprentice has taken the demands of the newsroom in her stride and although it took a few weeks to settle, she is now a key member of the team. The move has been cost-effective though this was not a key driver in making the decision to recruit. Hayley Anderson, reporter, Romford and Ilford Recorder I wanted to do a journalism apprenticeship as it was an amazing opportunity that I didn t feel I could turn down. It offered me an NCTJ Advanced Apprenticeship in Journalism as well as an NCTJ Diploma in Journalism Practice. At the same time as my interview for the apprenticeship, I was offered my place at university for an English degree, but I felt doing an apprenticeship would give me the necessary experience I need as well as help me to stand out a bit more, as I know how competitive the journalism industry is. Every day, all reporters are told to research for the first hour any new stories we could follow up, and then for the rest of the day we must put at least two leads together as well as five downpages. I ve done quite a lot in a short space of time, such as reporting at the Urban Music Awards and having a TOWIE makeover, but for me the most enjoyable part of my experience so far was when I had my first front page story in my own local paper. More than anything, I felt proud of myself for finding, researching and writing that story on my own from start to finish. The most difficult challenge is finding stories by myself. At the beginning, I did struggle to find news as I wasn t sure how to go about it. But I think I have improved at that and am starting to learn more about how to obtain new and hopefully interesting news. I have always wanted to be a journalist and this apprenticeship has given me the chance to start the career I have wanted ever since I can remember. 4

5 EDITOR AND APPRENTICE CASE STUDY KM GROUP Ian Carter, editorial director, KM Group KM Group took the decision to hire an apprentice for two reasons. First, we felt it would be a good way to increase diversity in the newsroom, particularly in light of spiraling university fees. The applicants we attracted for the apprenticeship certainly came from a wider social and academic background than those who traditionally respond to adverts for trainee or senior reporter positions. Second, I have long been a believer that if people are determined to succeed in journalism, a lengthy university course isn t necessarily the answer. I was very keen to give a head start to the right candidate. It s vital you dedicate enough time to the recruitment process. Because of the high response we received, we decided to run assessment centres where we set the candidates a number of journalism-related tasks. We tested their basic news sense by asking them to decide the running order of a paper based on a selection of stories and asked them to interview each other, alongside literacy and general knowledge tests. The quality was really high, although we certainly made the right choice with our apprentice. It s also important people don t look on apprenticeships as cheap labour. We recruited Dan [Wright] in addition to our existing editorial staff, rather than as a replacement for a reporter, and are now seconding him to different parts of the company for three months at a time. Although they clearly will not be able to hit the ground running, we found our apprentice picked up the basics so quickly aided by one day a week at Lambeth College that he was rapidly able to make a really positive contribution to whichever department he was working in. So although it is an additional cost, it is really paying dividends. We have a motivated, enthusiastic member of staff who is getting a deep understanding of all aspects of the job and who will hopefully have a real sense of loyalty to the company. Dan Wright, editorial apprentice, KM Group Apprenticeships: the perfect cross between experience and education, and that s what I ve found with mine since day one with the KM Group. I m now just into the sixth month of my apprenticeship, and have already learned more, I believe, than any degree course could teach me in three years. It is the ideal mix between on-the-job training and education, which is something that must be promoted more. When the KM editorial apprentice position was advertised my journalism experience built up through sixth-form helped me land it. I worked hard balancing A-level studies to make a little name for myself in motorsport journalism, and that experience has helped get me here. And, of course, work experience on the KM sports desk helped develop my contact list further. Since then, it s been onwards and upwards with the KM Group, and to pinpoint one factor as the most enjoyable is incredibly difficult. The apprenticeship is so varied: within my first three days I had attended a coroner s court, interviewed a pantomime dame and covered a protest rally. Royal visits can now be classed as the norm after meeting Prince Andrew, then Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall just a month later. Oh, and I went to No 10 and despite failing to see David Cameron I did meet one of the street s famous cats. Each day is different and I learn so much; there is never enough time in the day. I ve written for press, radio and online, covering stories from cannabis cafes to badgers digging up graves in a local churchyard. It s been a challenge adapting to the different writing styles, but it is something I ve enjoyed picking up and have found great results in each medium. Even shorthand s going well as I work towards my NCTJ Diploma in Journalism. Three hundred words is not enough to show you all I ve done, but one thing s for sure: apprenticeships are the real deal. 5

6 TRAILBLAZERS Next steps: journalism employers working with BIS on government apprenticeship reforms Journalism employers, including Archant, the BBC, BSkyB, The Independent, ITN, Johnston Press, the KM Group, London Evening Standard and Newsquest, will take part in a government scheme to promote employer-led apprenticeships. Phase two of the initiative, known as the trailblazer programme, will empower participating employers to create short, easy to understand apprenticeship standards that will deliver the quality skills employees need to achieve excellence in the workplace. Journalism employers, who are working with the NCTJ will develop a new standard and assessment process, which will enable journalism apprentices to progress to senior status. The standard is due to be published in July This project follows the Richard review of apprenticeships, and the government s decision to put employers in charge, simplify systems, grade assessments and, where possible, link them to professional qualifications. The first eight trailblazers and occupations in their sectors were announced by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) and the Prime Minister s Office as phase one of the reform programme in October Journalism is one of the occupations in phase two. Given their recent work on the entry level apprenticeship, the newspaper and broadcast employers who have signed up as trailblazers are well placed to develop a new standard with the NCTJ. To join the trailblazers contact joanne.butcher@nctj.com. 6

7 TRAINING PROVIDERS If you are interested in employing an apprentice, talk to your local training provider: City of Wolverhampton College Savraj Bains, , Cornwall College Mark Benattar, , Darlington College Sue Calvert, , Harlow College Will Allanson, , Highbury College Nicola Phipps, , Lambeth College Roz McKenzie, , The Sheffield College, Norton College Matthew Neale, , For information about journalism apprenticeships, or queries about the training scheme and qualification, please contact For general information about apprenticeships visit the National Apprenticeship Service website: 7

8 NCTJ The New Granary, Station Road Newport, Saffron Walden Essex CB11 3PL Tel: Fax: