Newspaper journalist apprenticeships - where to start
You can get into this job through
a university coursea college coursean apprenticeshipworking towards this rolespecialist courses run by professional bodies
University
You may find it useful to have a degree in a subject like journalism or English. This will help you develop the skills you'll need as a journalist.
You could also do a postgraduate course in journalism. Some of these are accredited by the Professional Publishers Association.
You'll usually need 2 to 3 A-Levels, or equivalent, for a degree. You'll need a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course.
College
You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job. Relevant qualifications include
Level 3 Diploma in Journalism or Level 3 Diploma in Multimedia Journalism.
Some colleges offer the Level 3 Certificate in Foundation Journalism and courses in Shorthand, accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).
You'll usually need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent.
Apprenticeship
You can work towards this role by starting with a Level 3 apprenticeship as a junior journalist. Employers will set their own entry requirements.
Work
You could start as an office assistant or trainee reporter on a local or regional newspaper.
You'll need a minimum of five GCSE grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English, or equivalent qualifications. Many recruits have A-Levels or degree level qualifications.
Volunteering
Competition for jobs is strong, and you'll need to show you've got writing experience. You'll find it useful to have examples of your published work in a portfolio, especially if these include your name.
To build up your experience you can:
- volunteer for student and community newspapers
- write your own blog and have an online presence on social media
- submit articles and reviews to local papers or websites
Other Routes
You can study a range of professional qualifications in journalism, accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). These are available either online or part time at a training centre.
If you have a degree, you may be able to do a Fast Track NCTJ Diploma in Journalism course offered by National Council for the Training of Journalists. There are a number of bursaries available to eligible journalism students.
Newspaper journalist apprenticeships - what it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- knowledge of English language
- knowledge of media production and communication
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- excellent written communication skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- ambition and a desire to succeed
- persistence and determination
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Newspaper journalist apprenticeships - what you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
You could:
- investigate a story as soon as it breaks
- follow up potential leads and develop new contacts
- interview people face-to-face and over the phone
- attend press conferences
- record meetings and interviews using recording equipment or shorthand
- come up with ideas for stories and features
- write up articles in a style that will appeal to the reader
- sub-edit other reporters' articles for publication
- write up articles for online publication
Working environment
You could work in an office.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding and you'll travel often.
Career path and progression - Newspaper journalist apprenticeships
With experience, you could become a chief reporter or a specialist writer, covering areas like politics, business or particular regions of the country. You could move to a national newspaper or work as a critic.
You could move into other areas such as magazine, broadcast or online journalism. Or you could work in a press office or public relations.