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The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) is to add an online element for journalists sitting its National Certificate Examination(NCE).

The news interview section for the next round of NCE test, to be held on September 28, will for the first time ask candidates to write a story for the web.

Until now, candidates have always been asked to produce a story for publication in 'tomorrow's newspaper'.

The new test will ask candidates to publish online, on the same day, a story based on written facts given to them and information acquired through a mock interview.

The NCTJ made the alterations to its test to better reflect 'current newsroom practice and test candidates' ability to inform 'as it happens''.

"Candidates are already submitting stories from websites for the logbook. This evolvement of the news interview section recognises the changing newsroom practices and presents candidates with the opportunity to write in a slightly different style to that normally required in the NCE," said Steve Nelson, NCTJ journalism chief examiner.

"I am confident that candidates will easily adapt to this new requirement."

To prepare for the new test the training body will provided sample papers in this format for reporters to practice with.

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Written by

Laura Oliver
Laura Oliver
Laura Oliver is a freelance journalist, a contributor to the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, co-founder of The Society of Freelance Journalists and the former editor of Journalism.co.uk (prior to it becoming JournalismUK)

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