New report highlights skills gap among graduates as newsrooms demand platform convergence
27 April 2009
A UK–wide survey reveals that almost three–quarters of employers (71 percent) said there was a skills gap among graduates entering journalism.
The report by Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for the Creative Media Industries, found that employers across all sectors expect graduates to be able to work across multiple platforms.
The first of its kind in UK publishing, the convergence survey launched today (27 April) was conducted in partnership with the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC), Periodicals Training Council (PTC) and Society of Editors.
Skillset Chair, Clive Jones CBE, said: "Skills have been converging as newsrooms adapt to publishing and broadcasting on multi–platforms. The education and training system needs to keep pace with the changing needs of employers.
"The deepening recession gives this a new urgency. This report provides a blueprint for industry partners to develop transferable standards that cover all UK publishing sectors."
Web–based publishing continues to increase – more than half (57 per cent) of all companies surveyed use the internet as their primary platform for publishing. But many new entrants felt that current training arrangements needed to have a much stronger emphasis on multi–media skills.
Employers pinpointed several traditional and new skills gaps facing their business. For traditional skills these included finding own stories, use of language, writing, media law, shorthand and newsgathering. The standard of written English among new entrants was a major cause of concern.
For new skills, the most frequently mentioned skills gaps were in video skills, writing for search optimisation and multi platforms, assembling news bulletins and audio/visual packages and using the Freedom of Information Act.
BJTC Secretary Jim Latham said: "The onus is now on the sector to work together so that employers in UK publishing can benefit from these important research findings."
PTC Director Loraine Davies said: "It is clear that the issues of convergence are complex and having major skills implications for UK publishing. The industry needs a co–ordinated response and this research gives us a roadmap to developing that response."
Copies of the report can be downloaded at Convergence Journalism Skills Survey. A print copy is available on request by emailing louisef@skillset.org or calling 020 7713 9849. For more information please visit Skillset
For all media enquiries contact:
Jennifer Walters
e. jenniferw@skillset.org
t. 0207 713 9812
Notes for Editors
More than 220 employers in television, radio, national and regional newspapers, and magazine sectors were surveyed, including in–depth interviews with 26 employers. In addition, 50 training providers were surveyed and focus groups were held with new entrants to establish how courses had taken account of the new multi–media environment.
About Skillset
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media which comprises TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging and publishing. SSCs are licensed by the UK Government and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenge by sector. They are independent, UK–wide organisations, are employer–led, and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the industry.
About the National Council for the Training of Journalists
The NCTJ is the leading journalism training organisation. It accredits education and training providers; offers qualifications which guarantee the skills needed in the workplace; fosters continuing professional development for journalists, and provides a range of services and products relevant to its customers. To find out more, visit National Council for the Training of Journalists.
About the Periodicals Training Council
The Periodicals Training Council (PTC) acts as the lead body for best practice in training and development and people management for the magazine publishing and business media industry. Our vision is for a fully professionalised industry, with equal recognition and opportunity for employees across all functions of the business.
About the Broadcast Journalism Training Council
The Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) is a partnership of all the main employers in the UK broadcast industry – three departments of the BBC (News, Nations and Regions and Training), ITV News Group, ITN, IRN, Sky News, C4, Reuters, GCap Media News, RadioCentre the NUJ and Skillset.