Reporting From The FrontlineFast-paced, fascinating and challenging journalism is a career that is as engaging as it is competitive. Training in the UK can give you the edge is this rapidly changing industry, as Claire Colley reports

There's never been a more exciting time to be a journalist. Increasing use of the internet, 24-hour television and radio news, plus new technologies such as podcasts means news has never been more widely available. Some news reporters see these mediums as a threat to the traditional role of the print journalist – but the reality is journalists are able to reach a larger audience than ever before. The skills required are invariably the same – as are the rewards. Having a voice and a way to express your opinion, or the thrill of seeing your name on a byline. All of these things explain why journalism remains so popular despite such intense competition for work. But what is it really like being a working journalist around the world?

Reporting success

Samira Ahmed is a television news presenter on Channel 4, and former news reporter for the BBC. She identifies journalism as the most exciting part of her career. 'Reporting is still the closest thing to my heart. There's something that is so exciting about being there when it's all happening – whether that's in a courtroom seeing a landmark decision day, or when you're given exclusive access to something. It's both a privilege and a responsibility. I don't think anything can compare with that.'

For several years, Samira was based in Los Angeles for the BBC. Some of the stories she covered meant she had to cross very different areas of journalism. 'You get these quite bizarre crimes. I covered a case where Madonna had a stalker who'd trespassed in her home and she had to testify in court... it was quite something. In reporting it, I had to mix my knowledge of pop culture, explaining what Madonna was wearing etc, while reporting on a criminal case and reminding people it was actually a really nasty crime.'

However, Samira is adamant that no matter what story a journalist is covering, the same talents are required. 'The skills are the same, it doesn't matter what you're doing. Whether you're reporting on a pop star, or a crime, or a combination of the two, you still need to observe carefully, take down your quotes accurately, and, most importantly, convey to the listener or audience exactly what was going on – the truth of what is happening there.'

Gaining recognition

Techniques such as these require natural talents and tenacity, but there are ways to hone these skills. Many of the world's top journalists have trained in the UK and gone on to work for top media organisations, meaning that enrollment on media courses has rocketed in the past 10 years. This is partly due to an increase in the number of newspapers, magazines, websites, radio and TV stations that need trained journalists.

There are three organisations that accredit journalism training in the UK: The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC), and the Periodicals Training Council (PTC). Accreditation means a course meets the high industry standards; a knowledge of law, ethics and public affairs as well as writing and newsgathering and production skills are conveyed by each.

A digital age

News output is changing in the digital age however, and more and more journalists now work abroad. University College Falmouth is one institution that is responding to this need, and is running a master's degree in international journalism, for those who want to report on breaking news across the globe.

The MA International Journalism course, due to be BJTC accredited, is designed to train journalists across the four platforms: print, radio, television and online. Course leader George Matheson, a journalist with 25 years experience, says: 'It looks as if journalism as a whole is moving towards having the same content over the different platforms – and journalists will need to be able use them all.'

Foreign correspondents

The MA also looks at how international journalists find and investigate stories. Many decide to work freelance, and a master's in journalism will show you how to do this. Award-winning journalist and lecturer Paul Lashmar gets students to pitch freelance ideas as if they were doing it for real. If they're good stories, they get the commission, if they're not, they don't. Daniel Morgan, a student from Germany, says: 'Being a freelancer is about being one step ahead of the game and we're taught how to develop an angle that hasn't been in the news and so get the commission.' There's also a strong emphasis on meeting deadlines. Daniel continues: 'We have to research and write perhaps 20 stories a week when we do news bulletins. If we're doing print, we research more in-depth and so work on a couple a week.'

International focus

Many other institutions offer leading courses in international journalism, including City University in London and Cardiff University in Wales. City University's master's course is specifically aimed at student journalists from overseas who want to train in the UK then take that knowledge and use it to work abroad or in their home country. The course has around 30 different nationalities represented this year alone. These students are given the opportunity to write and produce their own newspapers and magazines, radio and TV programmes and website. They also regularly produce podcasts for The Guardian newspaper and write online blogs. Course leader Heather Purdey says: 'We run the course like a newsroom and we encourage students to find and write stories from their own countries. We have such a diverse student mix and this means that so many different perspectives and news agendas are explored. Our students are journalists from the outset.'

Bringing stories to life

The MA in International Journalism at Cardiff University offers a similar mix of advanced study, practise and theory. The aim is to develop news writing and gathering techniques, as well as the art of bringing stories to life. This is aided by the University's high-technology digital radio, television and print newsrooms. Cardiff also offers optional modules for students with specific interests, such as new media and politics, or reporting from the Middle East. For all journalists, getting that first foot on the ladder is crucial. Work experience is often the stepping stone into paid work and this is why students on all of these master's have the chance to do an internship. Falmouth student Francesca has already done work experience at the BBC World Service and will do her placement at The Independent newspaper in London. Nothing is guaranteed in the world of journalism, but an education that combines academic skills with real-life training and experience is the best possible start to this glamorous and enthralling career.

Web links

National Council for the Training of Journalists
www.nctj.com

Broadcast Journalism Training Council
www.bjtc.org.uk

Periodical Publishers Association
www.ppa.co.uk