The Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) is an industry-led body offering accreditation to courses for aspiring journalists.
Contents |
In the late 1970s, the National Union of Journalists was pushing for a more structured approach to training for broadcast. After a series of meetings with universities, the BBC and the Independent Broadcasting Authority, the Joint Advisory Council for the Training of Radio Journalists was formed, chaired by the retired Managing Director of BBC World Service, Gerard Mansell.[1]
This organisation was the forerunner of the BJTC. In 1987, Tom Beesley succeeded Mansell as chair. He continued for 23 years, before retiring in 2010. The third and current chair is Marie Kinsey, director of postgraduate journalism at Sheffield University.[2]
The BJTC is a partnership of 90 per cent of UK broadcasting employers: the BBC, ITV News Group, ITN, Sky News, Thomson-Reuters, RadioCentre, APTN, plus the NUJ and Skillset, the sector Skills Council for the media industries. Associate members include 37 colleges and universities, running a total of 65 accredited courses. The aim of the BJTC is to make students more employable, so the primary role is as a forum for employers and training providers to agree training standards.[1] The advantages of a BJTC accredited course include a guaranteed work placement with one of its partners for at least three weeks, which should be properly structured and mentored.[3]
The BJTC also runs an annual awards programme. In 2010, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) won the 2008/9 Course Award for general excellence in broadcast training. University College Falmouth student Nina Saada won the TV documentary category with a film on human sacrifice in Uganda. [4]