Online Journalism News

• feed |
• newsletter |
• widget |

"As soon as I started at a local paper, I had a splash in two weeks," says Phil Hall, new ambassador for the Harlow Journalism Centre, recalling the advantages of his own training at the college.

Hall, who studied at Harlow in the 1970s, went on to become editor of the News of the World, breaking the story of former MP Jeffrey Archer's 'false alibi'.

His name is just one on a list of illustrious alumni produced by the college: since founding in 1964, Piers Morgan, Martin Bell and Alan Rusbridger have all passed through its doors.

Yet with 93 journalism courses in the UK listed on Journalism.co.uk's books alone, how will Harlow's training scheme make itself stand out in the digital age?

"Media companies are pouring so much money into websites – these guys are taking it seriously. We have got to try and give the students help from both the traditional industry and the new industry," Hall told Journalism.co.uk.

The centre is hoping to attract lecturers and speakers from 'traditional' and emerging news media – bloggers and online journalists like founder of PopBitch, Camilla Wright, he says.

The site's proximity to London, he adds, will be a key factor in attracting both these contributors and prospective students.

The journalism programme is also strengthening its multimedia prospects in a bid to attract new trainees. Audio and video workshops are being introduced to complement the existing training in shorthand and law, skills Hall also picked up in the 70s.

Increasing the multimedia skills of students may not be enough to secure them a place in an industry that arguably has not room for them.

Hall remains optimistic; he says that by providing Harlow's students with 'a variety of skills to adapt to any outlet' they can carve new career paths in a changing industry – despite the current state of the job market.

"There are recruitment freezes in traditional media, but there are more worlds opening up all the time. The industry is becoming younger, but that will undoubtedly open up opportunities for younger people," he says.

"Quality and skill can be adapted to whatever platform you are working on."

Tags (click tag to find related articles; click icon for feed):
training | news of the world | phil hall | harlow journalism centre |

Sign up here for our free, daily email newsletter to get all the latest stories, jobs, tips and more.

Got a story? Call our news team on +44 (0)1273 384290 or email them.