If you’re excited by the world of deadlines, headlines, and front-page splashes, you can make your mark at Up To Speed. You will learn how to report for print, online and on video as an Up To Speed news reporter.

The course combines classroom teaching with real-world reporting of stories in news days. You will be taught by Tom Hill, who has worked for the BBC, ITN and Sky News and by Lynn Jackson, who has edited national magazine titles. Lynn has also worked as a reporter for the Bournemouth Daily Echo.

The course is divided into two terms.

Term One

An intensive 12-week term at our training centre in the Daily Echo, Bournemouth.

You will learn how to write news, how to take notes in shorthand and study the Media Law and Politics you need to be an all-round journalist.

At the end of this term you will take the following NCTJ exams:

Reporting

Shorthand

Essential Public Affairs For Journalists

Essential Law For Journalists

Media Law Court Reporting

Classroom time: Monday to Thursday 10-7pm

Term Two

In the second term you put the lessons you have learned into practice while continuing to study for further NCTJ exams and assessments.

During this term your time will be divided as follows:

Four weeks: video journalism in which you will shoot and edit video stories for four days a week. You will be trained to shoot video and edit on Final Cut and Adobe Premiere software.

Four weeks: shorthand speed-building and portfolio work.

Four weeks: work placement arranged by you with help and guidance from Up To Speed’s tutors. We will start helping you to secure a placement as soon as you have accepted an offer and paid your deposit. NB You need to plan several months ahead for journalism work placements as competition for them is intense. Stories published on placement will go into your Multi-Media Portfolio.

In the second term you will take the following NCTJ exams and assessments:

Video Journalism exam

Multi-media Portfolio (coursework)

Further Shorthand exams up to 120 wpm.

The practical aspects of this term will be underpinned by continued teaching and supervision in video journalism, shorthand and news writing.

Journalism Courses News Reporter NCTJ

Qualifying as a news reporter opens up a world of opportunities. So, why not pause for a few seconds and consider what your dream job in news would be?