news investigation


Delays have been caused by university bureaucracy, funding, lack of space and unforeseen building issues.” The report added that at that time students were using


music production studios to double up as a news studio rather than having a proper news studio with 24-hour access. It added: “Students are not using industry-standard,


networked text-writing software for editing, timing and organising news output.” The report was particularly critical of the professional


training given to students to speak to camera, industry placements, the standard of the law course and the way the university accepted some applicants without interviews. It presented a picture of the university constantly changing its mind and employing different people. The report also implied there may not be enough lecturers with practical journalistic experience teaching the courses. This picture is borne out by a former student. Ben Walker, who now runs his own photography business, said: “I graduated in 2018 and, during my entire duration of the three-year course, the staff were always saying ‘This is the year we get accredited’ etc. But, whenever any of the students asked about how things were coming along, it was very hush-hush. “The main reason I believe we never gained accreditation


Students’ hopes dashed


A top university failed to get its journalism course accredited. David Hencke reports


ONE OF THE country’s leading universities has let down nearly 100 student journalists by suggesting they would achieve a professionally recognised qualification as part of a journalist degree course. This will now never materialise. The University of Sussex has marketed its BA honours degree in journalism by saying it is “seeking accreditation” from the Broadcast Journalist Training Council – a professional body whose qualifications are recognised by the BBC, ITN, ITV, Channel 4 and BSkyB. The NUJ is also a member of the body. Six years after Sussex first approached the BJTC, the


university has abandoned its application to get accreditation – after the BJTC told it that its course did not meet industry standards. A BJTC statement said: “The BJTC has never accredited the


BA journalism course at the University of Sussex. For the past five years, the university has not met the criteria of our accreditation requirements as set out by our industry partners.” A confidential advisory report, written in 2017 by the BJTC


and seen by The Journalist, reveals that the BJTC is highly critical of the standard of the course, which had been offered to students for the first three years, and the university’s failure to provide proper facilities to train broadcast journalists. The BJTC stated: “During the accreditation process, three different plans have been presents (sic) and none completed.


was because there was no consistency in the course. Every year I was there, we had a new head of department and, each year, the course just seemed a little less cohesive than the last.” He added: “That being said, I cannot fault the staff at


Sussex. The vast majority of the journalism team were caring, passionate and incredibly professional. A few names to mention in particular are Dr Monika Metykova, Judy Aslett, Ping Shum and Rachel Duncan. These staff always went above and beyond to help deal with any concerns I had and offered so much practical information whenever it was asked for.” The university has offered the disappointed students, who


have spent £27,000 each on tuition fees, a free NCTJ correspondence course so they can get a professional qualification. Some have received £500 in compensation. A University of Sussex spokesperson said “achievement of


“


accreditation was never guaranteed“. “We informed all current students of our decision not to


Every year I was there, we had a new head of department and, each year, the course just seemed a little less cohesive than the last


pursue BJTC accreditation in face-to-face meetings and via letter. Students have been told they can take the NCTJ correspondence course at any time, including several years after graduation should they choose to. “The BJTC noted in the 2017 review that access to


appropriate facilities held the course back from attaining accreditation. We advised the BJTC that we were looking to build a dedicated newsroom to meet accreditation requirements – this was not completed until autumn 2018.” The university denied that there were shortcomings in the quality of practical coursework and teaching, and said: “We employ practitioners, and we offer a placement year opportunity, as well as a wide number of work-based learning opportunities for our journalism students, which have included experience with regional and national media organisations including the BBC.“


theJournalist | 07


JONATHAN HOWELL PHOTOGRAPHY / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO


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