news Funding for journalism courses faces cut


THE NATIONAL COUNCIL for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), backed by the NUJ, is speaking out against plans to cut funding for journalism education. The campaign began after guidance by Bridget Phillipson, the


education secretary, was issued on ‘high-cost subject funding’ being moved away from journalism training. Phillipson is referring to the money specifically allocated to courses where costs are significantly higher than can covered by tuition fees.’ Philipson’s guidance withdraws strategic priorities grant (SPG)


funding for the 2025-2026 financial year from journalism courses. It states: “This government’s 2024 industrial strategy sets out


the sectors that offer the highest growth opportunity for the economy and business. “I am therefore setting out in the terms and conditions that


your funding allocations should support provision of courses in these sectors, noting that a significant proportion of them currently attract SPG funding. “Prioritising in this way does, however, involve making


compromises elsewhere; for this reason, I am asking you to reprioritise high-cost subject funding away from media studies, journalism, publishing and information services courses. “While I recognise that these courses are valued by the


universities that deliver them and the students that take them, my decision is informed by the challenging fiscal context we have inherited.” The NCTJ and the union are arguing that journalism is a public good, and the union has called for greater investment to ensure


Bridget Phillipson: decision is informed by the ‘challenging fiscal context’


courses remain an attractive and sustainable route for those considering the industry. The NUJ recognises the importance of retaining public trust and


confidence in journalism and agrees with the NCTJ that the need for high-quality, accurate, ethical journalism has never been greater.


The NCTJ has written jointly to the secretary of state with the


Association for Journalism Education, the Broadcast Journalism Training Council, the Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association and the Professional Publishers Association to urge her to reconsider the guidance.


Shetland Times saved from closure


THE NUJ has welcomed the purchase of the Shetland Times by Highland News and Media, which secures the future of the 153-year-old newspaper. The title, which is


Shetland’s only print newspaper, had been owned by the same family for more than 100 years, and was printed in Shetland. It was put up for sale in April and


faced potential imminent closure if a buyer could not be found. As recently as a decade


ago, the weekly title sold around 11,000 copies in a population that was just over double that. In recent years, print sales declined to 3,400.


The islands are also served


by the Shetland News, which is online only, and BBC Radio


Shetland as well as individual journalists. The Shetland Times was


still printed locally at its offices in Gremista, although printing will now take place on the mainland of Scotland. The case of the Shetland Times was raised by Nick McGowan-Lowe, NUJ national organiser for Scotland, at a lobbying meeting with MSPs at


Holyrood as an example to show the need for a Scottish public interest journalism institute. Sources of potential funding are being considered. The Scottish government’s public interest journalism working group in 2022 explored ideas including community ownership of news production, strategic investment of public sector


PJRNEWS / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO “


A POWERFUL showcase, Stories We Need to Tell, spotlighted the revival of Iraqi creative work at Sheffield international documentary festival in June, writes Garry Clarkson. The festival champions the breadth of documentary, offering


makers and audiences a place for inspiration, debate, development, learning and challenge. The theme this year was ‘where perspectives meet’. Stories We Need to Tell was curated by Maythem Ridha – filmmaker, producer and past festival winner. Tamara Amir’s Ali’s Daughters follows three teenage sisters training to become professional boxers. Zainab Al-Hariri’s 40 Years


04 | theJournalist


I am asking you to reprioritise high-cost subject funding away from media studies, journalism, publishing and information services courses


Bridget Phillipson Education secretary


advertising and tax incentives for businesses that advertise. with public interest news providers.


Iraqi creatives in the spotlight at film festival


of Silence is the personal story of her father’s execution for involvement in a plot against Saddam Hussein, and her journey to uncover his legacy. Meral Niazi’s Journey Through Time reimagines Iraq through a riverboat expedition into its cultural heartlands. Duraid Munajim’s Amana (Trust) captures a family’s struggle to sustain life in the ecologically devastated Iraqi Marshlands. In a Q&A, Al-Hariri shared: “We grew up ‘shushing’.No-one


was allowed to talk, no one was allowed to ask any questions. People kept saying let the past rest and let’s move on but, we who suffered have to continue remembering what happened to us to tell other people It’s OK to talk about your trauma.”


GARRY CLARKSON / BMT


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