THE Daily Echo’s Classroom in the Newsroom journalism training course has been accredited by the national journalism training body.

The Echo joined forces with Highbury College in Portsmouth last year to launch the one-year diploma in journalism course based at its Southampton headquarters and mixing high-quality training alongside work experience at the paper and website, dailyecho.co.uk.

Students are learning how to be a working journalist and will leave with all the skills they need to make it on a newspaper, website, TV or radio station. 

Now the course has been granted National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) accreditation.

In its summary, the NCTJ said: “The course is a unique partnership between a newspaper and college, providing free training for people under 19 living in the Southampton area and giving them an opportunity to become qualified journalists without going to university.

“All the current seven students are very enthusiastic about the course and its potential. Many said they had dreamed of becoming a journalist but did not feel it was within their grasp to achieve.”

David Brine, the Echo’s head of training, who leads Classroom in the Newsroom at the Echo, said: “It is a huge boost that the NCTJ has recognised what we are trying to do here in Southampton and has been so complimentary about it.

"The students were thrilled to hear the course had been accredited and are looking forward to tackling the various parts of the diploma while gaining an invaluable insight into life as a working journalist.”

Paul Foster, journalism course leader at Highbury College, added: “We’re delighted to have received NCTJ accreditation. The course is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who wants to break into the media industry.”

The diploma covers the essentials of journalism and includes reporting, public affairs, media law, court reporting, video broadcasting, and shorthand.

Highbury College in Portsmouth has more than 50 years’ experience in training journalists with a great number of success stories including ITV newsreader Mark Austin and the BBC’s deputy political editor John Pienaar.

What is required to join the course?
You will need at least five A-C grades at GCSE including English and ideally you should have also achieved either two A-levels or an equivalent Level 3 qualification such as a BTEC Diploma.

What qualifications will be achieved?
You will achieve a Diploma in Journalism.

What attendance is required? 
The programme is due to run over 39 weeks, starting in September. You will be based mainly at the Echo.

Cost and payment?
You will usually not be expected to pay a fee if you are:

  • Under 19 at the start of the academic year (as of August 31).
  • Aged 19-23 at the start of the academic year (as of August 31) and are unemployed and in receipt of certain government benefits.
  • Aged 19-23 at the start of the academic year (as of August 31) and do not already hold a Full level 3 qualification.

Students aged 19-23 and not in the above categories will usually pay the advertised fee.

Students aged 24 and over at the start of the course will pay a higher “unfunded” fee of £2,850. Students applying for these courses could be eligible to apply for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan.

How do I apply?
Apply to join the One-Year Diploma in Journalism by logging on to highbury.ac.uk/journalism.
Email journalism@highbury.ac.uk or ring 023 9238 3131 and speak to a member of the Information, Advice and Guidance team (option 4).