NCTJ photography course

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russbates

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Russell Bates
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Hey all

I have my interview and exam for the NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) Photojournalism course next Thursday and i was wondering if anyone here had done it before, or taken the entrance exams and could give me an idea of what ill be facing!

Thanks

Russ
 
Never done it, but I'm very interested. (and am going off to google it now)

Good luck and let us know how you get on (if for no other reason that people searching on this subject in the future could be helped by your feedback)
 
Right i thought i would fill you all in on the NCTJ thing! Mainly as its on here incase anyone else searches it like me!
NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) runs a photojournalism course at Norton College in Sheffield. It is in fact the only course in the country accredited by the NCTJ (whereas about 30 centres are accredited for standard journalism). You won't find too much about it anywhere as they deliberately don't advertise and its still very heavily over subscribed. (This will probably change next week as there is apparently going to be an article about it in The Times).

The course itself is 50% practical 50% theory and very intense taking into account 6 work experience placements at different publications in the year that it runs. The aim is simply to train photojournalists. At this point i should note that such a qualification doesn't guarantee success and as you can see on here there are plenty of unbelievably talented photographers who haven't had a lesson in their life!

However in terms of the photojournalism world such a course is an excellent 'shoe in' to a good career. Before the interview process the head of the course explained that last year 24 of the 25 participants had already been offered jobs at newspapers and photo agencies before the course had finished. They also have a pretty good alumni with every British national newspaper and photo agency having atleast one staff photographer working at each as well as many international publications. The Times current picture editor (the youngest ever) was also on the course.

Applications are year round but i'm pretty sure its nearly full now. However if anyone is interested in applying (i have read a few threads on here regarding photojournalism and paths to a career) i thought i would just give you a quick heads up on the interview process. Not giving away too much, you will have to do an exam which tests English language knowledge (spelling etc) photographic knowledge and news of current events. You then have to undertake a short interview where you must present a portfolio and discuss it with the tutor. A week later (or in the interview if your lucky) you find out if your on!

Hope this is of help to anyone thinking of such a carer path!

Russ
 
Hi Russ

I would just like to add that Paul who runs the course is regarded by many of the top people in the news industry as one of the best in the world, he is a fantastic bloke. Norton College has the reputation as one of the top colleges in the country for photographic courses, (I know, I am currently there).

I have no doubt you will love the course Russ, Say hello later in the year.

Mark
 
Yeah i'm thinking of doing this course at Norton College, really looking to get into photojournalism and it seems like a great entry point.

I also spoke to a photographer from the Daily Mail and he reccomended it.

Will probably book myself onto it next week. I'm living in Manchester as of late August, so this course looks great, the college is just round the corner from the train station, 1 hour train journey each way, not far at all.

I'm pretty sure I could do well in the interview too, my portfolio is only getting stronger :D
 
8utters said:
Yeah i'm thinking of doing this course at Norton College, really looking to get into photojournalism and it seems like a great entry point.

I also spoke to a photographer from the Daily Mail and he reccomended it.

Will probably book myself onto it next week. I'm living in Manchester as of late August, so this course looks great, the college is just round the corner from the train station, 1 hour train journey each way, not far at all.

I'm pretty sure I could do well in the interview too, my portfolio is only getting stronger :D
Click to expand...

If what I think your saying is that Norton College in Sheffield is just around the corner from Sheffield train station. I would have a look at that more closely if I were you, Its far from being just around the corner.
 
Oh yeah, Google maps was wrong...yeah it's pretty far away from the station actually.
 
Hey 8utters if your thinking about it I would get your application in pretty sharpish! Your portfolio looks pretty good but when i went to my interview a couple of weeks back Paul said that ten of the twenty places on the course were taken and two of us were offered a place on the day, leaving 8 places. The other six being interviewed on that day all seemed pretty good too, (lots of experience very solid portfolios). So if your thinking about it i would get my application in pretty fast! The college itself is about 15-20 min drive from central Sheffield, though i'm sure there will be a train station nearby

Russ
 
russbates said:
The college itself is about 15-20 min drive from central Sheffield, though i'm sure there will be a train station nearby

Russ
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No there isn't, best bet is a bus, which at best is pretty inconsistent.
 
russbates said:
Hey 8utters if your thinking about it I would get your application in pretty sharpish! Your portfolio looks pretty good but when i went to my interview a couple of weeks back Paul said that ten of the twenty places on the course were taken and two of us were offered a place on the day, leaving 8 places. The other six being interviewed on that day all seemed pretty good too, (lots of experience very solid portfolios). So if your thinking about it i would get my application in pretty fast! The college itself is about 15-20 min drive from central Sheffield, though i'm sure there will be a train station nearby

Russ
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Yeah I think I will apply on Monday, I hope there's still spaces!
 
Also, russ, can you tell me more about the interview? Is it really formal i.e. wear a suit or what?

Gonna give them a ring on Monday. Might apply for next year if I don't get in this year. Infact might work out quite well if I leave it for a year becuase I was planning on spending this year earning money and building my portfolio as good as I can get it.
 
Its always best to go formal for any interview, i went in the standard dress for any working photographer most of the time which is smart casual. Shirt, smart trousers and polished black shoes. Everyone else was wearing similar really.
Couldn't really tell you much about the interview as i was offered a place quite quickly in the interview, the guy before me was in there for about 30 mins though. The test looks at news knowledge, camera knowledge English skills but as its different every time i can't really say much about it. You can find some info on the NCTJ website. Russ
 
Yeah had a good look on the NCTJ website.

Was planning on going either formal or smart casual anyway, I always go to interviews in formal wear.
 
Rang up the college today, not full yet (the woman on the phone says they havn't been informed that it's full, I assume that means there's still spaces).
 
I asked today and there are a few places available when I saw him around 11 ish.
 
Cool, better get my application form in asap, gonna post it tomorrow.
 
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