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Double seal of industry approval for university’s journalism course

The journalism course at the University of Gloucestershire is to be accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) from this autumn.

Students beginning the BA Journalism degree in September will be following a syllabus that will see them taking NCTJ diploma exams alongside the university’s own assessments.

The three-year course – which has produced journalists now working for Sky, ITV, the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and the BBC – is already accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council.

It will now become one of only a handful of undergraduate journalism courses to be accredited by both organisations.

Journalism academic subject leader Neil Leighton at the University of Gloucestershire, said: “We are hugely proud of the teaching and training that we offer, and it’s very gratifying to have what is now a double of seal of approval from industry.”

The NCTJ’s trustees approved the university’s accreditation application last week after a visit which featured senior figures from the regional media and BBC.

The training body has laid down requirements for teaching hours that the university must meet, with the course teaching public affairs, media law court reporting, shorthand and video journalism on top of the NCTJ’s mandatory modules.

Teaching takes place in modern newsroom and studio suites as well as conventional classrooms, with university modules including a new pop culture option, as well as lifestyle journalism and advanced digital storytelling.

Budding journalists can book their place on the university’s next open day which is on Friday 30 June. Visit www.glos.ac.uk/open to book. Visit the university website for more information about BA Journalism.