THE Basingstoke Gazette and its sister paper the Southern Daily Echo are today launching a fantastic new initiative to give up-and-coming writers a chance to break into the media industry.

We have teamed up with journalism training centre, Highbury College, to run a ‘classroom in the newsroom’ based at our Redbridge headquarters in Southampton.

Starting this September, the 2016 One Year Diploma in Journalism ­will mix high-quality training alongside extensive work experience at the Gazette, the Southern Daily Echo and our sister publications throughout Newsquest Hampshire and our websites.

Students will learn how to be a working journalist and will leave with all the skills they need to make it on a newspaper, website, TV or radio station.

Achieving the diploma can also pave the way for a job in PR, social media, publishing and communications – all without having to pay thousands of pounds in university fees.

Highbury College in Portsmouth has more than 50 years’ experience in training journalists with a great number of success stories including ITV newsreader Mark Austin and the BBC’s Deputy Political Editor John Pienaar.

Editor-in-chief of the Gazette and Southern Daily Echo, Ian Murray, said: ‘I’m excited that our papers are fully involved in continuing this fine training tradition as we prepare today’s students for the exciting multi-media world we operate in.

‘By having the classroom in the newsroom we will provide an amazing opportunity of real-life, hands-on training for all students. There’s no better way of learning the skills of the trade.’

The diploma covers the essentials of journalism and includes reporting, public affairs, media law, court reporting, video broadcasting, and shorthand.

While the qualification is a sure-fire way of getting into journalism, it can also lead to other careers in the media or communications industry.

Paul Foster, Programme Leader in Journalism at Highbury College, said: ‘There’s no doubt that employers see this course as a fantastic grounding in the art of writing, publishing and broadcasting.

‘We have a high rate of employment amongst our students who complete our journalism courses. In the past few years our Highbury students have progressed onto magazines, radio and TV stations, newspapers and news agencies. Other students have used the course as a great way of gaining work experience and securing a place at university.’

Spaces on the course are limited. If you would like to apply (see panel), log onto www.highbury.co.uk/journalism, call (023) 9238 3131 or e-mail journalism@highbury.ac.uk to arrange an interview.

For more information, search for the Highbury College Journalism Training page on Facebook.

What is required to join the course?

You will need at least 5 A-C grades at GCSE including English and ideally you should have also achieved either two A Levels or an equivalent Level 3 qualification such as a BTEC Diploma.

What qualifications will be achieved?

You will achieve a Diploma in Journalism

What attendance is required?

The programme is due to run over 39 weeks, starting in September. You will be based mainly at the Echo offices in Southampton..

Cost and payment?

You will usually not be expected to pay a fee if you are:

  •          under 19 at the start of the academic year (as of 31st August)
  •          aged 19–23 at the start of the academic year (as of 31st August) and are unemployed and in receipt of certain government benefits
  •          aged 19–23 at the start of the academic year (as of 31st August) and do not already hold a Full level 3 qualification

Students aged between 19–23 and not in the above categories will usually pay the advertised fee. Students 24 and over at the start of the course will pay a higher ‘unfunded’ fee of £2,850. Students applying for these courses are usually eligible to apply for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan but should consider their own personal circumstances and seek impartial advice before entering into a financial agreement.

How do I apply?

You can apply to join the One Year Diploma in Journalism by logging onto www.highbury.ac.uk/journalism

You can email journalism@highbury.ac.uk or call (023) 9238 3131 and speak to a member of the Information, Advice and Guidance team (option 4).

Alternatively, if you would like to join the 20-week NCTJ Fast-Track Diploma in Journalism course, then log onto www.highbury.ac.uk/journalism or email journalism@highbury.ac.uk