Jenny Minard of The Bolton News passed on her first attempt

A UCLan journalism graduate has become just the third person in the country to pass the NCTJ’s new NCE for sub-editors.

Jenny Minard of The Bolton News passed on her first attempt after completing the preliminary sub-editing certificate in July last year.

She joined the newspaper as a trainee sub-editor after graduating from the BA (Hons) Journalism degree programme in 2006 and working briefly at The Press Association.

Jenny said: “I did a lot of reporting while completing my degree and felt I really wanted to learn new skills and go down the production route.

Jumped at the chance

“When a trainee position came up at The Bolton News I jumped at the chance to work on the paper and do something new. At the time the NCE was still in the preparatory stages but eventually I was able to enrol and I was delighted to complete it.”

The three-part NCE consists of a two hour sub-editing exam, a newspaper practice exam and a sub-editors’ logbook.

Jenny added: “I want students to realise that you don’t have to go down the traditional route. You can explore other skills yet still gain a qualification. I’m delighted subbing has been recognised by the NCTJ and proud that I was given the opportunity to sit it.

“Having my NCE sets me aside from other journalists in my field, which can only enhance my career in the industry.”

Jenny, who also writes a fashion column for The Bolton News, is the first journalist to have completed the qualification within Newsquest, the company which publishes The Bolton News. A sub-editor on the Halifax Courier, Neil Wilcox was the first person in the country to complete the NCE last September.

The films, made in collaboration with the Lancashire Evening Post, show new students everything from a guided tour of Preston to how to cook good food quickly and cheaply.

The first of the videos, ëFreshersí guide to Prestoní shows students all the key locations in Preston: where to shop, eat and, perhaps most importantly, drink.

The videos go hand-in-hand with a Freshersí supplement which will be published in the Evening Post on Tuesday.

Third year journalism student Ricki Dewsbury, who co-presented the guide to the city with UCLan Communications Officer Ed Walker, said:

ìItís been a great experience to work on these films and theyíve been fun to make too.

Working closely

ìIt was really useful to get involved with in terms of making contacts and itís great for the university to have students working closely with journalists at the LEP.î

The next video, to be released on the LEP website in the next few days, will show students how to cook a simple meal in less than 20 minutes.

Third year journalism student Craig Laycock, who acted as co-presenter and head chef in the video, said:

ìIt was all really great fun. I was nervous before filming that my lack of prowess in the kitchen would let me down when cooking the meal, but it was actually a really straightforward recipe in the end. And if I can do it anyone can!î

The Evening Post has plans to make one student video a month to put on their website. Josie Hill, community reporter for the Lancashire Evening Post and former UCLan MA Online Journalism student, thinks that working with students is a good idea. She said:

ìItís all about getting the information straight from the students themselves.

ìNobody wants to watch videos with stuffy guys in offices telling them how to live their lives at university, so by doing this we have a great way of appealing to a student audience directly.î

More info
BA (Hons) Journalism
PGDip Broadcast Journalism
Watch the first video – Freshers Guide to Preston

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The money will be used to add a ìblue screenî to the television studio and for an outside broadcast unit that will allow students to send audio, live from all over the county, straight back to any of the five radio studios.

Live reporting

Course Leader for the Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism, Mike Green, said: ìA lot of radio today consists of live broadcasts and journalists are expected to report from where the action is. It is essential students get practice of live reporting and of outside broadcasting and this new unit will allow us to set up anywhere in the county from court to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and send back quality broadcast reports.î

The departmentís television studio will also be updated with new technology. A Chroma Key, also known as a Colour Separation Device, will be used in the studio to project images behind the presenter.

Julia Shaw, a Senior Lecturer in Broadcast Journalism, said: ìNews days are an essential part of our broadcast journalism training and students produce and present an ëas liveí news magazine programme that is as close as possible to the real thing. They already use the latest technology to produce reports and interviews and this new equipment will add to this.î

The Chroma Key device will enhance weather and sports journalism reporting by teaching students how to use graphics and images that are an essential part of the TV process. The technology used for the outside broadcast unit uses 3G mobile technology and works in the same way as transmitting audio on the internet to ensure that it is good quality.

Mike Green added: ìWe hope to use this new technology a lot in our teaching as it will be excellent practice for when students enter the industry as well as being a confidence booster and good fun to work with.î

The funding has been awarded by the universityís Teaching Equipment Fund and will be used for teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate journalism students.

More info
MA Broadcast Journalism
PGDip Broadcast Journalism
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism
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Only months after the first graduate, Emma Pickles, was offered a job as a Communications Officer with the national governing body for athletics, other students are now working as journalists or for the press offices of some of the country’s top football clubs.

Despite studying journalism, the students also built up their PR knowledge by studying a module in Sports Public Relations which allowed them to look at the industry from both perspectives.

Craig Davies has recently started his job as a Communications Assistant at Everton FC. He writes content for the club’s intranet and also checks national and local media for stories on Everton that can be added to the website.

He said: “I am a lifelong Everton fan so it’s a dream come true to come straight into this job. I have to do other things such as downloading images for sports newspapers or TV channels and I am also currently dealing with Everton Mobile where I take audio highlights from Everton’s games and publish them on the website as ringtones.”

Craig also reads through the Everton fans forum, the Blue Room, checking through everything that fans are writing about the club.

Media Officer

Stewart Hudson has also landed a job in a football club press office, for recently promoted club Blackpool FC. He is an Assistant Media Officer and Assistant Secretary for the club and was offered the job after posting his CV to Blackpool after they were promoted to the Championship.

Stewart said: I liaise with both local and national press, the players and staff at the club and assist Club Secretary and Media Officer Matt Williams. I applied for the job because I wanted to get into the media side of things with a football club and the turnaround at Blackpool FC made it an attractive proposition.”

Nick Hext works for Sporting Life website, a news site that is owned by Sky Broadcasting and covers many sports from football to snooker.

He said: “It’s great to put everything I’ve been taught into practice and I’m enjoying working for a company that is so well respected.”

As a sub-editor for Sporting Life, Nick covers a variety of sports although his main interest lies in football.

“I’ve been writing previews and player profiles for cricket and also covering International football games so there is a variety. I’m enjoying building up a good knowledge base on sport and it means everyday is different.”

All three agree that the key to career success is to build up experience and a portfolio whilst at university.

Craig said: “Get your face and name known in the industry. Once you’ve had some work experience at a football club don’t be scared of hassling them to give you a job or to ask for any opportunities.”

Stewart, who completed work placements at Rugby League clubs St Helens and Warrington Wolves, said: “Any sort of work experience during your time at the university is worthwhile and in the end that is what will help you stand out over others who have not. It will go a long way when it comes to leaving and searching for your first full-time job in the industry.”

Nick also advised that students need to be prepared to try several times to get the job.

He added: “It’s a competitive industry so you have to be prepared for some knock backs when you apply for jobs and work placements but it’s important to keep at it.”

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BA(Hons) Public Relations
BSc(Hons) Press Commuincations
Sporting Life
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Only months after the first graduate, Emma Pickles, was offered a job with the national governing body for athletics, other students are now working as journalists or for the press offices of some of the countryís top football clubs.

Craig Davies has recently started his job as a Communications Assistant at Everton FC. He writes content for the clubís intranet and also checks national and local media for stories on Everton that can be added to the website.

He said: ìI am a lifelong Everton fan so itís a dream come true to come straight into this job. I have to do other things such as downloading images for sports newspapers or TV channels and I am also currently dealing with Everton Mobile where I take audio highlights from Evertonís games and publish them on the website as ringtones.î

Craig also reads through the Everton fans forum, the Blue Room, checking through everything that fans are writing about the club.

Media Officer

Stewart Hudson has also landed a job in a football club press office, for recently promoted club Blackpool FC. He is an Assistant Media Officer and Assistant Secretary for the club and was offered the job after posting his CV to Blackpool after they were promoted to the Championship.

Stewart said: I liaise with both local and national press, the players and staff at the club and assist Club Secretary and Media Officer Matt Williams. I applied for the job because I wanted to get into the media side of things with a football club and the turnaround at Blackpool FC made it an attractive proposition.î

Nick Hext works for Sporting Life website, a news site that is owned by Sky Broadcasting and covers many sports from football to snooker.

He said: ìItís great to put everything Iíve been taught into practice and Iím enjoying working for a company that is so well respected.î

As a sub-editor for Sporting Life, Nick covers a variety of sports although his main interest lies in football.

ìIíve been writing previews and player profiles for cricket and also covering International football games so there is a variety. Iím enjoying building up a good knowledge base on sport and it means everyday is different.î

All three agree that the key to career success is to build up experience and a portfolio whilst at university.

Craig said: ìGet your face and name known in the industry. Once youíve had some work experience at a football club donít be scared of hassling them to give you a job or to ask for any opportunities.î

Stewart, who completed work placements at Rugby League clubs St Helens and Warrington Wolves, said: ìAny sort of work experience during your time at the university is worthwhile and in the end that is what will help you stand out over others who have not. It will go a long way when it comes to leaving and searching for your first full-time job in the industry.î

Nick also advised that students need to be prepared to try several times to get the job.

He added: ìItís a competitive industry so you have to be prepared for some knock backs when you apply for jobs and work placements but itís important to keep at it.î

More info
BA(Hons) Sports Journalism
Sporting Life
Everton FC
Blackpool FC

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Tomasz, who left UCLan in 2006 with an MA International Journalism, works for Polskapresse Publishing Group who owns eight of the regional daily newspapers in the country.

He said: ìI am working on a new daily paper project, which is due to be launched this autumn. It will be probably the last quality newspaper debut in Poland in the years to come. Itís a great challenge and a chance for me to develop further.î

Prior to being offered the job at Polskapresse, on his return to Poland Tomasz was immediately hired as a Business Journalist on Polish national newspaper Dziennik.

Exclusive interview

ìI started to specialise in transport related topics and in February 2007 I got an exclusive interview with Ryanairís Chief Executive Michael OíLeary at the airline headquarters in Dublin.î

Tomasz is no stranger to interviewing high profile figures. Before coming to UCLan he worked on Polandís biggest quality newspaper and also used his time in Preston to gain as much experience as possible within the British media.

ìApart from my time at the library, lectures and seminars, this study break turned into an intensive year long placement. I freelanced for a coupe of print media in Poland, mostly covering one topic ñ the so-called Polish plumber from the UK perspectiveî Tomasz said.

The timing of Tomaszís visit to Preston was also helpful.

ìThere was an influx of Poles into the UK labour market with social, economic and others aspects of the issue to be explained and described for readers in Poland. Extending my interest beyond print media, I got an internship at the BBC in Manchester, which eventually helped me to air a news package on a Polish national television channel during prime time. The topic of my item was, not surprisingly, Polish workers in Blackpool.î

Tomaszís contacts within the BBC proved to be useful and he even managed to secure an interview with the Corporationís former Director General, Greg Dyke.

He commented: ìLong hours of studying and lectures about global media during the course helped me a lot in rising to the challenge of talking to one the most influential figures in British media.î

Having got more than just a qualification from his time in Preston, Tomasz said he would recommend the course to others.

He added: ìI would recommend studying at UCLan to anyone seriously interested in journalism, which I guess is a statement you would expect from a graduate. However, what you wouldn’t expect is my story, which I hope clarifies why I am so enthusiastic about it.î

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MA International Journalism
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Mike Holden, who graduated with a degree in Journalism in 2005, recently launched his site www.fillyourboots.co.uk
which provides match previews and analysis on selected Coca Cola Championship, League One and League Two matches throughout the football season.

His aim is to create a place to bring together fans of all 72 Football League teams and the growing betting community.

Mike said: ìI spend all week reading local newspapers from all over the country to find information about the teams and to build up a picture. Teams outside of the Premiership donít get enough coverage nationally and I hope Fill Your Boots can become a place that those with a passion for the Coca Cola League can come together.î

Betting

Mike has always been interested in football betting and started to take it more seriously several years ago. He also works on a freelance basis for sports website Sporting Life and its sister site Betting Zone. Mikes ìNet Gainsî tipping service has just been launched by Betting Zone which they described as a ìhugely successful premium football tipping serviceî that already includes 21 write ups on pre-season tips offs covering the Championship, League One and League Two.

Mike commented: ìAs a lot of my work is betting related I found I had surplus information from my research that was being wasted and so a website is the ideal way to utilise it.î

He hopes to develop the site as much as possible over the coming season and already has extra writers in mind. Mike considers some coverage of lower league football to be ìpatronisingî and hopes his approach will be refreshing and enable the site to become a success.

He added: ìIíve wanted to set up this website for a long time and it wouldíve been easy to let it fall by the wayside. So far Iím really pleased with how itís going and Iím thriving off the work Iím doing. At the moment itís a labour of love but maybe in the future it could evolve into a profitable venture.î

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The AHRC was established in 2005 and has an annual budget of over £75 million.

It supports ìhigh quality research and postgraduate training in the arts and humanitiesî and Jane, as a member of the Peer Review College, will review research proposals in her own area of expertise, digital journalism.

Jane, who is the Johnston Press Chair in Digital Journalism, said: ìI am honoured to be a part of this body, and Iím looking forward to learning about the research that colleagues in the UK are doing.î

She was congratulated by the Dean of Lancashire Business School, Professor David Hamblin. He said: ìThis is a real mark of esteem for yourself and worthy of celebration by the Department. It is a real delight to see the research strengths of the Department of Journalism honoured in so public a forum.î

Book publication

The invitation comes just as Janeís first book is published. ìOnline Journalism Ethics: Traditions and Transitions,î co-authored with Cecilia Friend, discusses ethical issues and questions that journalism practitioners and academics encounter in the online medium.

Jane said: ìI’ve always been interested in journalism ethics, especially as journalists move into a digital environment. I think ethics become increasingly important when anyone can publish news and we look for ways to identify the information sources we can trust.”

Whilst it is the first book that Jane has written, she has written chapters for other books and has more planned, including an encyclopaedia entry and a chapter for a book due out in December entitled ìGlobal Journalism Research.î

She is also due to receive the 2007 Clifford G. Christians Ethics Research Award. This will be presented at the annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) in Washington, DC, for an article Jane wrote on journalists’ roles and norms in an online environment.

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Simon Smythe is a sub editor for Cycling Weekly and also works on the magazineís website writing a weekly editorial and the ‘what’s in’ page. He has recently been offered a job as a senior sub editor on Holland and Barrett magazine, Healthy, but managed to work on what he described as ìthe most important professional bike race in the worldî before his departure.

Legend

Simon said: ìThe Tour De France has an unbelievably rich century long history which is full of legend. You have to go to France to see it to really appreciate it, but the British mainstream media have done a good job of conveying some of its magic this year.î

As a sub editor most of Simonís work on the Tour De France is before and after the event. The issue of Cycling Weekly before the Tour was over twice as long as usual to include a preview.

ìLast year there was a major drug scandal which broke the day before the Tour and most of the favourites didn’t start so some of our editorial pages were immediately out of date. We were keeping our fingers crossed this year that nothing like that was going to happen again and it didn’tî he commented.

Simon has competed as a cyclist himself as a time triallist racing against the clock. He won a national medal in the British Circuit TT Championships and several open events before retiring in 2006 with back problems. He started freelancing as a sub editor for Cycling Weekly whilst completing an MA Online Journalism course at UCLan in 2003.

He added: ìI work in a team made up of a Production Editor, Chief Sub Editor and two Sub Editors producing a weekly and two monthly magazines and that’s quite a challenge. It’s great working as an efficient team and I’m quite sorry to be leaving them.î

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But he didnít expect to be shoe-shine boy to VIP visitors!

During his placement, which is just coming to an end, Anthony has been involved in several VIP visits.

As well as helping out with Press packs; looking after film crews; setting up photographs and escorting journalists to press conferences, he has had to make sure that VIP footwear was up to scratch.

Alistair Darling

ìWhen MP Alistair Darling and the new CEO of Airbus, Louis Gallois, visited this winter one of my duties was to clean the safety boots they had to wear in the factory,î explains Anthony.

As well as a touch of spit and polish, other visit day tasks ranged from walking the visitorsí route with other communication officers; preparing safety equipment; setting up the reception room; making signs; taking notes of speeches; and making contacts with journalists. Everything bar make the tea!

He has also been involved with media training for management and a wide range of events from charity fund-raising to a presentation of gifts for a group of returned aviation workers.

ìWorking in a tightly knit team has been a great experience and my mentors have been fantastic,î says Anthony, who returns to his final studies in October.

He now hands over to fellow PR student Suelyn Howe, who is also set to fly high with Airbus on her placement from 2007-2008.

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BA (Hons) Public Relations
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