SarahLonsdale's blog

The absolute final deadline by which any third years wishing to submit an NCTJ portfolio is Monday May 13. I will not mark any portfolios submitted after this date. The portfolios MUST be submitted in absolute finished form, with all the right sheets filled in, work experience forms at the back filled in (both - yours and your news editor's), word document versions of pieces signed off by tutors or editors, audio/video submissions in playable format as I will NOT come chasing after you for more work on incomplete or unfinished portfolios.

Revision Class for 3rd years JN510 Weds May 8 11 - 12 in PK125

Revision class for MAs JN812 Mon May 13 11 - 12 in PK125

The Reading Chronicle newspaper is looking for a trainee reporter to join our recently graduated Nick Gutteridge, one of last year's MAs. Coincidentally the Chronicle was my first newspaper, where I spent two extremely happy years learning the trade before graduating onto the Observer. The paper is looking for people with their 100 wpm shorthand and NCTJ diploma, once again emphasising the importance of getting your qualifications!! You can read the details here

No fewer than eight out of our 11 postgrad students have passed their NCTJ Reporting exam at the first time of asking. In percentage terms that's a 73 per cent pass rate for an exam that nationally fewer than 50 per cent of takers pass, so hats off to the postgrads. In addition, five out of the eight successful students scored Bs, an extremely rare achievement, they are all a credit to the Centre. This tops last year's pass rate of 66 per cent for the postgrads' NCTJ reporting exam. Onwards and Upwards.

I will be holding a final two-hour newswriting session on Monday, 12 - 2. I heartily recommend that all of you down to take the exam on April 23 come along. We will be going through two question ones, and my failsafe list of top 30 tips for passing. I have cancelled Thursday's newswriting session after listening to pleas re: the project. Additionally: I only have 6 portfolios ready for posting on Wednesday. These are: Nikki, Danielle, Laura, Dean, Sarah W and Sophie.

Your penultimate chance to take newswriting is April 23, in the holidays. The last chance is June 11, after the end of University exams. After this date, the old-style newswriting exam will be abolished and replaced with the new-style Reporting exam you have not been taught for. Please could all of you who want to take the exam on April 23 register with Anastasia AND PAY by the end of this week.

Dear third year newswriters, due to there being an exam in the little newsroom, I have had to delay our newswriting clinic until 1.30 today. Sorry about that, hope you can still come/don't have a wasted journey, Sarah

Dear all,

Your reporter in fiction second essay has now been marked and moderated and is ready for collection. I will be in my office 12 - 4 on Wednesday and 12 - 4 on Friday if you want to pop in and pick it up from me then. Please could the last person who had my McNair book (initially lent to Daniel but I think then passed around) bring it back to me asap.

The second assessed essay questions for Reporter in Fiction are now up on the module notes. Good Luck!