Journalism

Learning Programme Content

The Learning Programme provision shall comprise of three mandatory elements:

• Qualifications,
• Essential Skills
• On/off the job training

The total minimum credit value required for the Level 5 Pathway in Journalism is 94 credits.

Entry requirements

New entrants will need strong commitment to be a journalist. They must be able to use the language effectively to express themselves both in the spoken and written word. Employers are looking for flexibility from hard-working staff who have a real passion for wanting to “tell the news”.

 A fundamental condition of entry to this apprenticeship is the employers’ and training providers’ belief in the candidate’s ability to learn and develop their skills while demonstrating at all times a commitment to the job.

In addition, apprentices should have:

• 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grade C or above;
• a hard-working attitude;
• an inquiring mind;
• a lively interest in current affairs;
• an ability to write and use words accurately and with effect;
• persistence and determination; and
• a willingness to accept unsocial hours

Individual employers may have additional requirements, e.g:

• a current driving licence;
• the ability to effectively use a computer.

Welsh language skills may be required by some employers, or for some specific jobs. Fluency in the Welsh language may be an advantage.

Apprenticeship pathway learning programme(s)

Level 5: Journalism

Level 5: Journalism Qualifications

Participants must achieve the following combined qualification below.

Please see Annex 1 for the relationship between the competence and knowledge units within the combined qualification.

Essential Skills Wales (ESW)

Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh

On/Off the Job training

On/Off the Job Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

Level 5 Diploma in Journalism - Minimum of 82 credits

Total On and Off the job training hours for the 18 month programme is 985 hours

On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

• 6 credits / 60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Communication
• 6 credits / 60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number

Other additional requirements

None

Progression

Level5: Journalism

Progression into the Level 5 Journalism

The fundamental entry condition is the employer’s confidence in the candidate’s ability to thrive and achieve their potential within the apprenticeship. Non-accredited prior learning related to journalism may provide useful progression routes as it will demonstrate an interest in the area e.g. voluntary or work experience as a journalist, and relevant training in areas such as creating content for the web, or making a news video report.

There are a number of qualifications that would provide useful preparation for this Apprenticeship:

• Learning from the 14 to 19 Pathways;
• Wider Key Skills;
• Qualifications in the Welsh Baccalaureate;
• GCSEs, A Levels or National Diplomas in media-related subjects;
• Relevant BTEC;
• Completion of journalism for beginners courses at FE or via Adult Education;
• Completion of journalism and/or creative wiring courses; and
• Completion of, or units from, the NCTJ Level 3 Certificate in Foundation Journalism Qualification;

And

• Non-accredited prior learning gained through work experience;
• A portfolio of their own self-published blog;
• A portfolio of work published in a not-for-profit publication or by a commercial media;
• company (this could include work as a volunteer (e.g.: press officer for a club or society), or work published in a school/college magazine); and
• Training which may include a portfolio of work completed.

As a guide, applicants may enter via a range of routes including:

• School
• College
• University
• Private training provider
• Work Experience
• Work

Progression from the Journalist Pathway

The successful completion of the Journalism apprenticeship will open a wide variety of careers with broadcasters, online publications, magazines. Some will be general news but there are many opportunities with specialist interest publications, ranging from finance, specific sports, hobbies, family interest – the list is almost endless. Job titles will vary between sectors and employers.

After completion of this programme, an apprentice can expect spending time consolidating and practising their skills for a period of time before progressing in their career. 

Progression, after time, could be to managerial positions, while still combining journalism duties, or as specialists. Editors are generally drawn from candidates who have made their way in the industry after starting as junior journalists.

Progression into Higher Education

Progression from the Journalist Apprenticeship should be articulated to relevant Higher level programmes of learning. Apprentices can progress to higher or professional levels such as Foundation Degrees, Higher National Diplomas/Certificates BA Honours Degrees and Masters.

Equality and diversity

It is important that apprenticeship Pathways are inclusive and can demonstrate an active approach to identifying and removing barriers to entry and progression. Pathways should advance equality of opportunity between persons who share protected characteristics and those persons who do not as identified in the Equality Act 2010.

The Protected characteristics identified in the Equality Act are age, disability, gender re-assignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity. Marriage and civil partnership is also included although only in respect of the requirement to eliminate discrimination in employment.

Training providers and employers MUST also comply with the other duty under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that applicants are not discriminated against in terms of entry to the industry based upon those nine protected characteristics.

The Welsh Creative Media Industries both serve and draw on the talents and skills of a diverse population.

The diversity consists of visible and non-visible differences. It is the harnessing of these differences which results in globally successful, creative and productive industries.

Presently, representation of women is substantially lower in the Creative Media Industries in Wales than the UK as a whole (29% compared to 38%). Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic representation is slightly lower than the wider Welsh economy at 2%.

7% of the Welsh creative media workforce consider themselves to be disabled, compared to 9% across the UK.

48% of the workforce in Wales is under 35 years, suggesting a relatively young workforce (in comparison to the Creative Media Industries across the UK where 38% of the workforce are aged under 35).

Women are widely represented in newsrooms. Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic representation is growing.

There is under-representation from economically poorer areas where there is little or no family history of children going to university. Editors recognise it is vital that journalists reporting the news reflect the communities they serve and apprenticeships can help attract candidates from these areas.

There has been a greater move in recent years towards graduate recruitment into journalism, which often disadvantage those from some socio-economic groups.

A move towards more centralised newsrooms, especially in the traditional area of newspapers, can lead to an under-representation of journalists from the more remote, rural areas. The Apprenticeship will allow some of these imbalances to be tackled, giving a structure to the recruitment and training of candidates coming into the industry from a non-traditional route.

The entry requirements are wide and designed to attract applications from a wider range of applicants. There should be an open recruitment to Apprenticeship Pathways, which is available to all who meet the stated selection criteria for the apprenticeship programme they are applying to.

This Pathway aims to:

• Provide an alternative non-graduate entry route into the industry;
• Increase the diversity of the workforce to greater reflect the diversity of the customer base
• Increase the apprenticeship opportunities with the Creative Industries footprint.

To encourage recruitment from non-traditional routes, there are bursaries on offer through the Journalism Diversity Fund.  The fund has been set up by those in the industry who want to join together to support the training of journalists from ethnically and socially diverse backgrounds. It is aimed at people without the financial means to attend NCTJ-accredited training courses: http://www.journalismdiversityfund.com

The NCTJ and Creative Skillset are passionate about promoting diversity and is seeking and sharing good practice across delivery partners, in order to highlight positive examples of marketing and communication materials, and other strategies and activities used to break down barriers to entry and to ensure a more diverse talent base.

The NCTJ and Creative Skillset are also marketing and communicating this Pathway to ensure consistency of message and is involved in a number of activities such as:

• Targeted training initiatives to get new talent from under-represented groups into the industry;
• Use of National Occupational Standards and Labour Market Intelligence to inform accurate careers information, advice and guidance;
• Providing links to training providers working with under-represented groups;
• Providing links to organisations that provide media training, support and information to people with disabilities;
• Raising awareness of the under representation of people with disabilities in the industry’s workforce by monitoring employment trends, identifying barriers to training; and
• Development and sharing that information with partners.

The Welsh Language Scheme

34% of Welsh employers report a gap in language skills; 33% of Welsh employers reported that Welsh language skills are difficult to obtain in applicants direct from education.

The Welsh Language Scheme is a key feature of the Creative Media Industries in Wales; 29% of the Creative Media workforce speaks Welsh, compared to 21% for the whole economy.  The economic benefits of Welsh language are also increasingly being recognised, by both employers and employees across Creative Skillset's footprint.

For more details on research into the make-up of the sector, Creative Skillset’s Diversity Policy and strategy and links to other diversity activities see the Creative Skillset website:

www.creativeskillset.org/diversity

Employment responsibilities and rights

Employment Responsibilities and Rights (ERR) is no longer compulsory.  But it is recommended that all apprentices (especially the 16 years -18 year group) receive a company induction programme.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the Training Provider and Employer to ensure that the requirements of this pathway are delivered in accordance with the Welsh Government/Medr Apprenticeships Guidance.

 Further information may be obtained from: Medr

apprenticeships@medr.cymru

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