Journalism Training Sub-editing Diploma

The diploma in sub-editing, used by the Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph and The Irish News, was born out of the recognition that the industry is suffering a shortage of high-quality sub-editors. For years it has been accepted that reporters require specific training leading to a professional qualification. However subbing has largely been taught on the job, often without any professional tuition. Now some publishers are countering the skills shortage by growing their own subs. This diploma involves four-weeks intensive tuition by experienced production journalists followed by on-the-job training at The Press Association and regional newspapers. The tutors are all experienced journalists and subeditors who have worked at the highest level.

Residential classroom tuition

Four intensive weeks in the Manor at Howden. The emphasis is on the sub-editing craft, the use of words, the need for accuracy and tight editing. The modules are:

The publishing industry
Writing styles
Sub-editing
Headlines
Design and layout
Photographs and captions
Graphics
Colour
Typography
Essential law
Ethics
Public affairs
Technology

The sessions also cover the technical skills required of the modern sub-editor: working with QuarkXPress, Adobe InDesign or the sponsoring publisher’s chosen system; an introduction to Photoshop and navigating a library system and the Internet.

Accommodation

The courses are held at the Bishop’s Manor in Howden. Press Association Training can arrange reasonably priced accommodation. Details are sent to trainees once their place on the course has been confirmed.

How to get a place

Most trainees will be sponsored by the titles they work for but there are also a limited number of available places for self-sponsored trainees. No restriction is placed on entry but it is anticipated the majority of successful applicants will have completed a postgraduate degree in journalism or a pre-entry course or already be working as a reporter or sub-editor.

Practical sub-editing experience

To apply for a place on the diploma in sub-editing course, send a letter of application, your CV and two examples of any published work to Lorna Chaproniere, course administrator, Press Association Training, Innovation Centre, Highfield Drive, Churchfields, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN38 9UH.

Hands-on training with The Press Association (optional)

The Press Association is now a truly multimedia news agency and ideally equipped to provide work-place experience across the gamut of disciplines demanded of the modern sub editor. Following their intensive classroom tuition, trainees can spend ten weeks gaining work experience across the various sub-editing desks at PA’s new operations centre in Howden. Sub-editing with PA is all about accuracy, speed, conciseness, geography, attention to detail and ever-developing stories. The trainees spend time learning the essential disciplines through attachment to the regional and main news wires, digital department and within pageready news, features, sport and design desks.

The diploma takes around 12 months to complete and the bulk of that is time spent working as a sub-editor at the trainee’s sponsoring newspaper or on secondment. Trainees are provided with a training passport (portfolio of work) which is a constant companion. The trainees build up a log book of evidence of performance on which they are assessed and which also demonstrates their competence to perform day-to-day in a live publishing environment. Internal mentors work with the trainees during this time to evaluate their performance and hold regular copy clinics. Throughout the training, approved verifiers monitor and assess the trainee’s work.

At the end of the training the trainee submits a portfolio of work for assessment. The training can lead to either the NVQ-based National Diploma in Newspaper Journalism issued by the Newspaper Qualifications Council, a company's own bespoke inhouse diploma or The Press Association Diploma in Sub-Editing.

Day release journalism training

This is a 25-day course that runs every Tuesday in Howden that equips trainees for the NVQ Level 4 in Journalism.

The Press Association Diploma in Sub-editing