"The Journalist Works course took me from being someone with no journalism experience to someone with a career in journalism in just 10 weeks." .
Ruth Morgan, Reporter, Red BulletinFast track NCTJ Cert. in Journalism - Testimonials
" I feel very proud to say I'm now an award-winning journalist and that would not have been possible had I not enrolled on the course."
Steven Kelly, JW graduate and NCTJ award winner
“These were easily the best set of portfolios produced on any of the NCTJ courses I have seen. I found the standard high in every respect.”
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“Thank you for the course as it got me my perfect job. It's working as a trainee reporter for Splash News Agency in London writing celebrity news articles.”
Sophie Eager, Splash News Agency
“The course was actually better than I expected. I really didn’t think I’d get a story published in The Argus within the first three weeks but this course made it possible. The training and teaching was very good. It was straightforward and no-nonsense and taught us everything we needed to know.”
Lawrence Smith, JW graduate
“I should tell you I got promoted!! A Journalist Works success story! As of last week I am now deputy chief sub editor. Plus pay rise. Hooray!!”
Cathy Relf, The Grocer
“The NCTJ sub-editing course gave me all the skills I wanted, and several I never imagined I'd need -- until they were tested in my first job! The tutors' combination of industry insight and enthusiasm helped me move seamlessly into the editorial and news writing career I wanted.”
Anita Isalska, Assistant Editor for the Practical Law Company
"The Journalist Works course took me from being someone with no journalism experience to someone with a career in journalism in just 10 weeks."
Ruth Morgan, Reporter, Red Bulletin
"The fast pace of the NCTJcourse does a lot to prepare you for what your working day as a journalist will be like. Expect the unexpected! "Katie Clark, JW graduate, Chief Reporter, Bournemouth Echo
"I'm starting as a financial reporter for Dow Jones, London, on the 4th of August. 25k a year starting wage is a little more than expected, but who am I to complain. Thanks for the support."Richie Benson, JW graduate, now Financial Reporter, Dow Jones, London
"I needed a fast track vocational course that would quickly set me on a career path and Journalist Works has done that. Thank you."Ben Kyte, Journalist Works graduate
"The course gave me a kick-start I needed to get my first job in journalism. Now I will continue my lessons on the job. I am so grateful I have been on one of the best NCTJ courses in the country."Laura Gistri, Journalist Works graduate now features sub-editor, The Argus
"Training in the same building as a working newspaper is the best way to a career in journalism. None of the other NCTJ courses would have given this chance."David Brothwell, Journalist Works graduate and letters editor The Argus
"Words like intense, immediate and interactive come to mind when trying to sum up this course. There's hardly a moment to breathe before you find yourself out the other end. Paula really gets down to the nitty-gritty of journalism. She doesn't mollycoddle her students but gives them a true idea of what the world of journalism is like. In one tutorial she was explaining how some of the work we'd handed in had hit the bottom of the barrel. She then proceeded to put one up on the screen - mine!"'Ah,' she said, 'Here's a perfect example of one that's at the bottom of the barrel. '
At the same time, Paula was always encouraging and if you did a good piece of work she was full of praise.
This kind of approach really helps when you start your work experience or get your first job in the industry. "
Louise Poffley, Journalist Works graduate, Freelance reporter
"Paula O'Shea's course was invaluable in preparing me for a career in journalism. The media law and news writing that were drummed into us are essential in my work as a features editor, while the lessons in story structuring and feature writing were an excellent grounding. Paula helped me to develop the two hallmarks of a successful features writer: a nose for a good story and the art of an attention-grabbing opening paragraph. Her enthusiasm for the world of journalism is infectious."Ruth Tierney, Features Editor - Prima, National Magazine Company
"I have had a fantastic career in journalism after training with Paula. She runs wonderful courses. I have worked at The Times, The Sunday Times and the News of the World as a sub-editor. There's a shortage of skilled production journalists in the industry and anyone who wants a job in journalism should sign up with Journalist Works."Martin Burns, sub-editor News of the World
"Paula's enthusiasm and professionalism made learning with her a pleasure. She was a fantastic teacher with a wealth of personal experience which gave the course real credibility within the industry. I've used the shorthand skills and legal knowledge I gained on the NCTJ course on a daily basis in both newspaper and magazine roles in the UK and overseas - and the grounding Paula gave us in journalism practice has been invaluable. I still heed Paula's advice on every aspect of my writing - although I always did struggle with 'if in doubt, leave it out!"Sally Hall, Features Editor at Woman's Day, New Zealand
"I went into journalism quite late and only just got accepted on one of Paula's courses at the eleventh hour. That phone call changed my life and set me on a career path I could only ever have dreamed about. The course was completely hands on and I learned so much so quickly. Paula's enthusiasm and experience were invaluable and lessons learnt then have not been forgotten. I walked straight into a job as a journalist on the Brighton and Hove Leader before leaving a year later to take up the post as a television journalist with ITV News. I've worked on documentaries and news. Paula is a wonderful teacher who genuinely cares about her students. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better start in journalism."Jasmine Comer, freelance journalist
"I didn't realise just how good my training was until I started my first job; with the basics ingrained everything else just flowed from there and I realised the tight discipline I'd learnt made the creative stuff possible. Now, every day, every story and every time I double check the spelling of an interviewee's name, I hear Paula's voice in my head - it's a little disturbing at times, but never fails to point me in the right direction."David Prudames. Creative Editor, New media unit British museum
"Paula's experience in the industry meant I got a no-nonsense and highly useful introduction to the world of journalism. Her teaching was always clear and constructive and, unlike many of the essays I wrote at university, all the work she made me do was relevant to my future career as a journalist. I landed my first job at the Basingstoke Gazette before the course was even half way through and the basics I learnt from Paula stood me in good stead for my stint at The Argus in Brighton and now at The Times Educational Supplement."Jenny Legg, Reporter Times Educational Supplement
"I have no doubt that what I have achieved in my career is down to the thorough training I received from Paula. She knows the industry inside out and I don't think you can put a price on that sort of expertise. I consider myself lucky to have been taught by such a professional."Michaela Banks, Editor Crawley News
"Paula's non-nonsense media training gave me all the skills I needed to become a successful freelance travel writer. I got a job as an editor on a magazine in Shanghai when I finished the course. From there I went on to write for Time Out, Frommer's and MTV guides, as well as directing a documentary screened on Channel 4 and contributing to dozens of magazines around the globe. None of it would have been possible without Paula's schooling. She taught how to cut to the meat of the story and produce the consistently punchy, readable articles editors want to commission."Olivia Edward, Freelance Travel Writer
"Paula is a fantastic teacher who combines a wealth of journalistic experience with enormous amounts of passion and a much appreciated sense of humour! I loved every minute of her NCTJ course and it was with her help that I got my first job as a trainee news reporter at The Argus. Eight years on, I'm now the Features Editor, so I reckon I owe her a few beers! Thanks Paula."Jakki Phillips, Features Editor of The Argus
"It was my dream to work in women's magazines and I wouldn't be here now if it hadn't been for Paula's training."Unity Wroe, Acting Features Editor, Bella magazine
"Having established the journalism course as one of the best in the further education sector, Paula O'Shea did the same for the higher education sector at Eastbourne. Train with her and you are in good hands."Bob Norris, National Union of Journalists and National Council for the Training of Journalists (Retired)
"The course gave me a valuable grounding in the skills I needed to become a journalist and get a job. I started on the Uckfield Leader straight after the course and then on to the Norwich Evening News where I won the Newspaper Society Journalist of The Year for 2005. I have just joined Channel 4 News."Lewis Hannam
"Not all journalists make good teachers, but Paula has impressive journalistic experience as well as excellent teaching skills. It was this combination of skills and experience that knocked me into shape as a journalist."Richard Moss, www.24hourmuseum.gov.uk
"This is the NCTJ's only accredited sub-editing course; it is strongly supported by Newsquest and is making every effort to build links locally with Johnston Press and Northcliffe Media; students are passing the NCTJ's core exams and the majority are going on to find jobs in journalism.We believe it will continue to serve the industry's best interests by turning out skilled and knowledgeable trainees and recommends therefore that accreditation for the fast track NCTJ Certificate in Journalism (sub-editing) course provided by Brighton Journalist Works should be extended for three years until January 2011. This is one of the best NCTJ courses in the country."
Stephen Chambers, Head of Accreditation National Council for the Training of Journalists
"Cathy is settling in very well in fact she is almost alarmingly assured and proficient in week one. A superb appointment for us. Glad we got to her before anyone else. I can retire now."Kit Davies, William-Reed, Journalist Works graduate employer
"Thanks for running a course that has turned my life around and given me some confidence in myself and a chance to enjoy my working life. The rest is up to me."James Lowe, Journalist Works graduate, now Enfield Gazette
"The course was excellent, really informative and gave me a proper insight into life as a journalist. I enjoyed the challenges of the set tasks, and felt that they gave us an idea of the kind of skills we would need to be subs."Karen Lee
"I will not be taking the exams as last week I was offered a job as a features writer which starts immediately. The position is one I would have thought myself lucky to be offered in a few years time, so I am more than happy with the result of the course.Thanks for all your help."