Three trainee journalists have become the first to sign up for the new national diploma in applied journalism, launched at parliament by associate minister for tertiary education, Dr Wayne Mapp.
Dr Mapp also launched the new communications and media industry training organisation (CMITO), which will take responsibility for administering workplace training for the journalism, graphic design, printing, packaging, marketing and digital communications industries. CMITO results from the merger of the New Zealand journalists training organisation and PrintNZ Training in September 2008.Stacey Wood, from the Dominion Post; Debrin Woodcroft, from the Aucklander; and Kiri Gillespie, of the Gisorne Herald joined Dr Mapp at parliament to celebrate the commencement of the diploma, the CMITO’s first initiative.
PrintNZ says the national diploma in applied journalism, registered at Level 6 on the National Qualifications Framework, builds on the skills taught in journalism schools and provides graduates with a practical understanding of their workplaces. Available in print, television and radio strands, the qualification is similar to an apprenticeship in that it allows trainees to sign-off unit standards while completing their daily tasks on the job.
Dr Mapp comments that the new qualification shows CMITO to be an innovative and forward-thinking organisation. He says, ““The National Diploma in Applied Journalism enhances the educational opportunities available to journalists. It sets the standard to which the communications and media industry training organisation will operate.
“The media, communications, printing and packaging sectors are changing in profound ways. It is vital that training opportunities are flexible and accessible, and that those working in this area are highly skilled, literate and able to embrace new technology as it becomes available,” he said.
Communications and media ITO chief executive Joan Grace says the new ITO will act as a resource hub for the industry, providing a united banner for sector committees, such as NZJTO and PrintNZ Training, to administer workplace training for their member companies. She says, “This allows us to both meet the individual needs of the sectors which we represent and play our role in the wider industry training environment. In time, we will also widen the scope of the ITO to include multi-media, graphic design, broadcasting, film and outdoor advertising.”
The launch also saw the introduction of new productivity and literacy measures. CMITO will use Tertiary Education Commission funding to revise and upgrade training material, provide training to ITO staff and workplace trainers on literacy, and will continue with existing one-on-one support for apprentices and trainees with specific literacy issues.
In addition, CMITO will use funding, made available through the inaugural PrintNZ Training Productivity Fund, to match consultants with printing companies in a bid to improve productivity and performance, and counter the effects of the recession.
Grace concludes, “ITOs need to help their member companies survive in the current economic climate. It is our aim that CMITO will act as a conduit for ideas, assistance and training programmes and add real value to our sector.”
