NCTJ Diploma in Journalism (Fast-track)

What will I learn?

This 18-week NCTJ Diploma course will provide you with the skills you need to work in a digital newsroom or in the communications industry.

This course includes a variety of modules which will teach you how to produce engaging news copy and features as well as video footage for websites and social media.

You will also learn about how analytics and social media play a huge part in journalism and communications today.

Finally, you will develop a deep knowledge of the magazine industry in Scotland, Scottish politics and Scots Law.

The diploma has three core values at its foundation:

• the skills needed to source and tell stories accurately and to tight deadlines
• the modern multimedia environment of journalism and the integration of this with traditional skills
• core essential skills which are taught and assessed to a national standard, while still allowing some flexibility to specialise.

To gain the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism you must cover these seven areas of study:

• Essential journalism including the essential journalism exam and portfolio
• Practical magazine journalism
• Essential media law and regulation
• Journalism for a digital audience
• Public affairs (politics, health education etc)
• Video journalism for online.

Students run the College’s newspaper, The Clyde Insider, which allows them to publish written stories as well as mobile journalism pieces and podcasts.

From the beginning of the course, you will be given an insight into how a newsroom functions and the requirements of getting a publication into print and online.

To see the work our students have produced so far this year and pictures of the trips we have been on, visit @GCC_Journalism on Twitter and journoglasgowclyde on Instagram.

You can also hear from some of our alumni below:

Hear from Journalism alumni Darren McGarvey and Dani Gibson.

Rebecca Carey NCTJ alumni shares her story.

Employer and industry links

The course will be taught by staff currently working within the newspaper and broadcast industries or have worked with them. 

We have had a number of guest speakers talk to our students from the Big Issue, BBC Scotland, Bauer Media, Newsquests, Press Association, and Reach PLC to name but a few.  

Graduates have found work with the BBC, the Courier, the National newspaper, Newsquest, Newsquest Ayrshire Weeklies, Reach PLC Scotland local papers, Bauer Radio Scotland amongst other titles.

Others have found employment in the public relations and communications sector.