Committees

Which skills should be required to succeed in journalism?

9 March 2020

The Communications and Digital Committee holds its third evidence session on the future of journalism.

Witnesses

Tuesday 10 March, Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster

At 3.30pm

  • Will Gore, Head of Partnerships and Projects, National Council for the Training of Journalists; and
  • Andy Dickinson, Senior Lecturer in Multimedia Journalism, Manchester Metropolitan University

The first hearing focuses on the training of journalists and the skills journalists need to succeed, both on entry to the profession and as they progress. The questions asked intersect with other issues such as diversity in the profession and the status of freelance journalists.

At 4.30pm

  • Rossalyn Warren, freelance journalist; and
  • Nic Newman, journalist and digital strategist

In the second hearing, the scope is intended to remain relatively broad. The witnesses are able to address changes in both the production and consumption of journalism. Both witnesses have first-hand experience in journalism.

Possible questions

Questions likely to be asked to the first panel include:

  • Which technological developments do you see as most influential on the skills journalists need now and will need in future?
  • How effectively do university journalism courses prepare students for a career in the industry?
  • Why are there so few journalists who did not go to university? How could non-degree routes into journalism be enhanced?
  • What are the main barriers to making the profession more representative of the population, including diversity by region, socio-economic background and ethnicity?
  • Do journalists have sufficient access to training and professional development opportunities to adapt to changes in the industry?

Questions likely to be asked to the second panel include:

  • How have digital technologies changed the production of journalism? What are the best examples of innovation by journalists and news providers?
  • How are the pressures and influences on journalists changing?
  • Why is the profession not more representative of the population and what could be done to improve this?
  • How can journalists appeal to the audiences least likely to engage with or trust journalism?

Further information