Three Scotland-based journalists have qualified to become senior reporters, after passing exams set by the National Council for the Training of Journalists.
Some 53 out of 101 candidates passed the exam, with the chief examiner, Steve Nelson, saying – in a statement issued by the NCTJ: “There were highs and lows among the reports of the examiners responsible for the four parts of the exam – News Interview, Newspaper Practice, News Report and Logbook.
“It was in the News Report and News Interview sections where the pass rate was lowest, and this was largely through factual errors.
“There was an improved pass rate in Newspaper Practice, while the Logbook section produced an excellent selection of entries.
“It should be noted that the entry figure was the highest since July 2010, pointing to a trend among employers to recruit trainee journalists after the difficulties posed by the credit crunch.”
The exams were held in November and the pass rate was slightly up on the same exams held in the summer.
The successful trio in Scotland are:
Jill Castle, Kirkintilloch Herald
Kenny Paterson, Berwickshire News
Lindsay Watling, Aberdeen Press & Journal
The next National Certificate Examination will take place in March.
