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One in a series of free debates and panel sessions by the Society of Editors discussing the most pressing issues facing the media industry today.

Exploring issues of entry routes into the profession, the demand for ongoing professional development, the impact of Covid-19 on training requirements and the need to support diverse entrants into work, a panel of experts debate what next for media training.

The ‘State of Training’ panel is held in conjunction with the NCTJ to hear from top figures in journalism training.

From the newsrooms, joining the discussion is PA Media’s director of media training, Bridgid Nzekwu, while the debate is chaired by SoE President Alison Gow, audience and content editor for Reach plc North West.

Discussing media training partnerships is Sian Cox-Brooker, strategic partner manager at Facebook and Will Gore, head of partnerships and projects at the NCTJ, whose remits include Facebook’s Community Reporters scheme and the NCTJ’s Journalism Diversity Fund respectively.

To offer an academic perspective is Sam Cooper, journalism course leader at the Sheffield College, who made the switch to teaching last year after working at newsdesks including the Sheffield Star.

Topics such whether the public health crisis has shown up any training needs for journalists and how has journalism training at entry level changed, will also be explored in the last of the SoE’s virtual debates for the season.

Join the conversation on Twitter @EditorsUK and @NCTJ_news

Check out the rest of our Virtual Conference 2020 programme at https://www.societyofeditors.org/events/conference-2020/programme/

The conference is kindly supported by Facebook Journalism Project and Camelot, supporter of the SoE since 2001.

Alison Gow, Audience and Content Editor North West, Reach plc

Elected President of the Society of Editors in November 2019, Alison Gow is Audience and Content Editor for the North West with Reach plc, and publisher of Laudable, a Google-funded collaboration between Reach and JPI Media to innovate and investigate opportunities for podcasts and audio for local news. Alison is a former newspaper editor and digital editor, with titles including WalesOnline, the Daily Post and the Liverpool Echo.

Sam Cooper, Journalism Course Leader, The Sheffield College

Sam Cooper is the journalism course leader at The Sheffield College. He teaches the NCTJ Multimedia Diploma as part of the college's fast-track course, which is delivered across 28 weeks as well as the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production, regulated by the University of the Arts London. Sam made the switch to teaching in September 2019 after previously working on newsdesks at Sheffield Star, Rotherham Advertiser and Pontefract and Castleford Express. He is passionate about ensuring students are equipped with the skills needed in a modern-day newsroom.

Sian Cox-Brooker, Strategic Partner Manager, Facebook

Sian is a Strategic Partner Manager at Facebook working on partnerships and collaboration between Facebook and the news industry. Sian joined Facebook from Google where she worked on innovative partnerships with newspapers across Europe, focussing on VR and video. She started her career as a journalist, working at Sky News and at News UK, reporting on a range of stories including home affairs,  the 2011 tsunami in Japan, and the royal wedding.

Will Gore, Head of Partnerships and Projects, NCTJ

Will joined the NCTJ in June 2019, with particular responsibility for the oversight of partnerships and projects. He worked for ESI Media between 2011 and 2019, first as deputy managing editor across the group’s Independent and Evening Standard titles, then as executive editor for The Independent. Before that he worked at the Press Complaints Commission, joining as a complaints officer in 2000, and subsequently becoming assistant director, then director of external & public affairs.

Bridgid Nzekwu, Director of Media Training, PA Media

PA Media’s award-winning Director of Media Training.  ‘Outstanding Woman in Professional Services’ at the 2018 Precious Awards.  Bridgid oversees the provision of media training, PR/Comms training courses and media/comms strategy services for PA’s clients.  She joined PA in 2014 and is a specialist in preparing high-profile speakers and spokespeople for media interviews, crisis/hostile interviews, Select Committee appearances, major speeches, panels.  Over 20 years in the top-flight of broadcast journalism (including 10 years as a presenter and reporter at Channel 4 News) and 10 years in the field of specialist communications training (including 7 years at PA Media).

State of Training with the NCTJ