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One reason why journalism used to appeal so much to young people as a career was that it did not seem to need long and boring periods of study. After all, what more does a reporter need than a nose for news, a notebook and pencil, and ambition? Many famous journalists of today did start in exactly that way. They talked themselves on to some small town newspaper, and then learnt how to do the job as they went along. Many senior journalists look back on those days with nostalgia. They sympathise with youngsters who want to get away from their books and make a reputation in the outside world.
But today it is not so simple. Would-be journalists need a higher standard of school qualifications before they can get a job in the first place. And then they must agree to follow a course of training laid down by the National Council for the Training of Journalists, and they must pass their examinations before they can be sure of holding onto their jobs.
The NCTJ operates in Britain, but there are similar bodies being established in most countries. In those countries, such as the United States, where a high proportion of youngsters go on from school to college, there are university courses in journalism and the best jobs go to graduates. Though there is only one embryo course in journalism in a British university (at Cardiff), more graduates are entering the profession and as training schemes become more formalised, the chances in journalism for a boy or girl who dislikes school and cannot study or pass exams are very slight.
Training for journalism in Britain is organized by the National Council for the Training of Journalists which was set up in 1952 as a result of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Press (1949). The Council has representatives from newspaper and journalist organizations and four educational representatives, one nominated by the Department of Education and Science.
The aims and purposes of the Council include the establishment of standards of qualification for entry into journalism, and the formulation and administration of schemes for the training and education of journalists, including press photographers.
In 1956 an International Centre for Advanced Training in Journalism was set up in Strasbourg under the auspices of UNESCO, and the Director of the British NCTJ is one of the five-member international executive committee of that Centre.
The training schemes run by the Council became compulsory for new entrants to journalism from 1961, when about 500 trainees were registering each year. To regulate the training courses around the country, the Council has 15 Regional Committees based in various towns. These committees supervise the operation of the training schemes in their areas, keep in touch with the local education authorities in arranging courses, and advise local editors on methods of vocational training, and provide the experienced journalists to conduct proficiency tests.
There are basically two ways of entering the training schemes organized by the NCTJ: either by getting a job on a newspaper and then applying to enter the training scheme which combines practical journalism with part-time study, or by taking the one-year full-time course organized by the NCTJ.
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2
SUCCESS IN INTERVIEWING
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Newspaper reporters not only have risked and lost their lives in the front lines during warfare, but they have braved danger in peace time to cover floods, hurricanes, fires, strikes, crimes and many other kinds of stories. No editor expects a reporter to place himself in unreasonable jeopardy, but he does drill into every cub the fact that there always is more than one way to get any story. Resourcefulness of the reporter is imperative; the editor miles away cannot do his most important thinking for him.
Consider an experience which the beginner is likely to meet - arrival at the scene of an automobile accident after the crowd has disappeared, the injured persons have been, removed and the wreckage has been cleared away. The unresourceful reporter probably would phone his office that he is unable to get the story. The resourceful reporter, however, makes inquiries at the stores and residences nearby. He tries to find the policeman on the beat who probably has the names of the persons who were involved. The experienced reporter possesses the knowledge of all the possible channels through which he can obtain the information that he desires. Often the reporter may recall some news story printed in his paper weeks or months previously which suggests a solution to the mystery at hand. The wise reporter makes a practice of reading his own and rival newspapers daily, and he preserves news items which may be of value to him later. When in doubt whether to clip a certain article, he follows the safer policy and clips.
When he establishes contact with someone able to give him information, the reporter may be disappointed to discover that the news source is reluctant to cooperate to the desired effect.
The best kind of interview is that which proceeds in a natural, friendly, informal way. The reporter may inspire confidence and make himself attractive by not coming to the point of his visit at once, but by beginning the conversation with some general comment. If he can get his subject chatting about another matter, he may be able to lead the interview easily into the channel that he wishes it to take.
It is wise to take as few notes as possible during an interview of this kind. Often it may be disastrous to take a single note, if the reporter can get his subject to forget that he is speaking for publication, he will obtain much more than if the person is constantly reminded that the interviewer is taking down verbatim what he is saying.
Sometimes the interviewee requests the reporter to take verbatim notes. Or the reporter at the end of an interview may remark: "By the way, would you mind spelling that name for me?" Or he may ask for exact figures, addresses, etc., which the interviewee will be glad to have him get correctly. The reporter must be careful in asking for such information, because he should not suggest to the interviewee that he had better start pointing out clearly which of his remarks are for publication and which not.
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The reporter must train his memory to recall, an hour or so afterward, all the important remarks of the interviewee. He should make immediate mental note of any startling statement which he will want to use verbatim, and should keep turning it over in his mind during the rest of the interview. He should seize the first opportunity after leaving the scene of the interview to write down such statements and to make any other necessary notes. If he has an hour or so before he must write his story, he will be surprised 10 find that, bit by bit, virtually the entire interview will come back to him
In writing an opinion interview, it is often wise, for the sake of authority, to mention that the statements were made during an interview. So, "Mr. White stated in his interview today" is better than "Mr. White told a News reporter today". The newspaper should not boast of an exclusive interview unless it has shown ingenuity in outwitting opponents.
It may not be so easy to see celebrities who are attending conventions or engaged in business. Often the reporter can obtain an interview with a person difficult to approach, by means of a letter of introduction from some other prominent person. Or he may wait out his party in the lobby of the hotel or behind the scenes during a dramatic performance, concert or lecture.
In the majority of cases the interview can be obtained by the reporter's simply sending up his name or by phoning the person's room from the hotel off ice. If he has called at an inconvenient hour, he can request an appointment later. Usually he will get it, for the person will recognize the value of the publicity he may receive if he sees the reporter. Anyway, he will riot want to offend an important newspaper.
A musician, scientist, writer, politician or any other person who has become prominent, despises the reporter who betrays ignorance of his activities and reputation. Anyone with a speciality, furthermore, is bored to have to talk to another who is utterly uninformed concerning that field of interest. There are numerous biographical reference books which the reporter may consult to learn the outstanding facts about a person's life and achievements. The newspaper's reference department usually can supply clippings related to what the person has done recently.
Without some knowledge of his subject the reporter may fail in his interview. A famous person accustomed to being interviewed may become sympathetic toward the cub and may give him a few stock statements, But familiar, often-used material is not what the editor wants the reporter to get.
The reporter should go to his interview with a number of possible questions memorized. These should be related to the interviewee's field of interest and yet should not be too elementary or questions which it is reasonable to suppose the person has been asked time and time again. The reporter should try to find some new angle of approach, some fresh subject upon which the person interviewed will be able to speak.
