A behind the scenes guide to studying at News Associates: Our September courses so far

With award nominations, guest speakers and bylines galore, it’s been a busy few months here at News Associates.

This September we welcomed two new cohorts of full-time trainees eager to undertake their NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism at News Associates – officially the UK’s number one NCTJ journalism school. And we’ve really thrown them into the deep end. Click here to join us in 2018.

Just two weeks into their course, our fast-track trainees professionally covered the Parsons Green tube bomb, both in the newsroom and at the scene.

Read their coverage, and the rest of their 12-page South West Londoner e-edition, by clicking on the front page below.

A few days later we opened our doors to a new bunch of budding sports journalists.

And some organised fun took place.

News Associates alumnus and The Independent news reporter Lucy Pasha-Robinson carried on her great work in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.

And we took inspiration from some of journalism’s greatest mantras to decorate our new Manchester office.

We love this picture of TeamNA legend turned Sky News presenter Tom Macleod doing his thing with Kay Burley.

And Dan Stables must have one of the best journalism jobs going…

Meanwhile, Jessica Lester and Thea Jacobs got a joint double-page spread in The Sun. 

In early October our second part-time course of the year started and we made quick work of turning them into shorthand geeks (like us!).

Sports journalism trainee Yinsu Collins interviewed England women’s cricket captain Heather Knight ahead of the Ashes in Australia for South West Londoner.

Elsewhere, TeamNA’s Madeleine Howell didn’t even break a sweat when tasting the hottest supermarket curry for The Telegraph.

We’ve been on our travels a lot recently.

But the big news is that nine News Associates graduates have been shortlisted for the NCTJ Awards for Excellence 2017. With our nominations covering news, sport, top scoop and features – as well as making up one third of the Student Journalist of the Year shortlist.

Thomas George who studied in Manchester said: “I am extremely proud to be nominated for this award.

“I couldn’t have done it without the incredible help and support from everyone at News Associates who helped to make my training enjoyable, as well as equipping me with the skills for a career in journalism.”

News Associates London representative for NCTJ Student Journalist of the Year 2017 Anna Schaverien said: “Anyone who’s been through the process knows that passing the NCTJ is an achievement in itself – and this is the icing on the cake.

“To be shortlisted for this award is beyond belief and I’m grateful to News Associates for training me and encouraging me to do my very best.”

Back to our current courses and sports journalist and TV presenter Ned Boulting kindly gave up some of his time to speak to our Manchester trainees.

This was followed ten days later with an insightful talk from The Guardian prison correspondent Eric Allison.

On the complete opposite of the journalism spectrum, we absolutely love this picture of The Sun apprentice Bonnie McLaren at the Radio 1 Teen Awards.

We’re also celebrating more award nominations as two members of TeamNA made the Press Gazette News Journalist of the Year shortlist.

Elsewhere, ITV journalist Iona showed off her broadcast skills. #StartedHere

And two London fast-track trainees got front pages while on placement.

TeamNA grad Lauren Windle pushed herself to the limit and took on Victoria Beckham’s diet all in aid of a story for The Sun and Fabulous. And we loved it.

And ITV journalist Fran Le Noury strutted her stuff on the red carpet at the Pride of Britain Awards.

Our sports journalism trainees set the bar high with their first South West Londoner e-zine. Give it a read by clicking on the front page below.

And pulses were raised as we kicked off the prestigious Shorthand World Cup 2017.

Our Manchester trainees had an insightful day out at the News Impact Summit where the topic was ‘The future of news is community’.

Meanwhile, our London trainees were treated to a talk from The Times and Sunday Times executive managing editor Rob Hands who shared what he looks for in a journalist.

“We are looking for journalists to be perennially interested,” he said.

“The best reporters are those that are relentlessly determined to find stuff out.

“I always looks for enthusiasm in a journalist.”

Away from the office and former News Associates trainee Charlie Talbot-Smith was crowned table tennis king.

On November 5, part-time trainee Abbas Panjwani landed three (yes, three) bylines in The Sunday Times.

Shout out to part-time trainee Kate Whitfield too

News quiz chief Graham Dudman and reigning champion James Ayles crowned our latest news quiz king Shingi Mararike.

And finally, we can’t get over this view from our Manchester office.

The number one journalism course deserves a number one view after all.

And if all that sounds like your cup of tea, you can sign up to one of our free news or sports journalism workshops in London and Manchester here.

We are now interviewing for our fast-track, part-time and sports journalism courses in London and Manchester – apply here.

You might also like:

A Day in the Life of a News Associates Journalism Trainee

A Day in the Life of a News Associates Sports Journalism Trainee

You can also follow the success of our trainees and alumni on Facebook and Instagram.