Lords Committee holds evidence session on the training of journalists
On Tuesday 10 March 2020, the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee will hold its third evidence session on the future of journalism
The first hearing will focus 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 will intersect with other issues such as diversity in the profession and the status of freelance journalists.
The evidence session will begin at 3.30pm in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords. The witnesses will include:
- 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.
Questions likely to be asked 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?
In the next hearing, the scope is intended to remain relatively broad. The witnesses will be able to address changes in both the production and consumption of journalism. Both witnesses have first-hand experience in journalism.
The evidence session will begin at 4.30pm in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords. The witnesses will include:
- Rossalyn Warren, freelance journalist; and
- Nic Newman, journalist and digital strategist.
Questions likely to be asked 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?
