Magistrate or magistrate?

[fireflyfairy2]

I am trying to get this court report written up for class tomorrow & just as I have printed it out I realise I might have done it wrong.

It's Magistrates' court isn't it? But the magistrate has a small m?

At least that's the way we were taught & it is in all my notes like that...

As in Co.Kerry Magistrates' court.

Resident magistrate Mr Colin Farrow.

But this evening, idly flicking through the local paper I see they have a capital M for both Magistrate court & resident magistrate....

Where's Cod????

Message withdrawn

I haven't got my essay back yet, so I'm still not sure.

Thanks Edam & Swedes.. I'll know who to ask for advice next time I'm having doubts

And Cod, thank-you too!

Let us know how you do. I once got marked 'zero' because I wrote a story for the course that was supposed to be for the Edgware Gazette or something and spelt it Edgeware - harsh but I never made that mistake ever again!

Fireflyfairy - are you also learning Teeline shorthand? I still have nightmares about the shorthand exams.

Hi everyone.

Swede, no, we're not learning that yet.

Apparently we have to be doing the MA in Journalism before we are taught shorthand yet when I was applying for my degree course we weren't made aware that a degree in journalism wasn't a 'recognised qualification'!!!!!

According to our journalism lecturer we have to do the MA to gain the NCTJ qualifications that most newspapers require, though we have been told that our law module exam can be used just as a univeristy grade or we can pay a fee & be able to use it for the NCTJ too.

Obviously I have paid the fee so will have one NCTJ exam. I am a bit pissed off though, as I doubt if I can do the MA so basically my degree in journalism will mean diddly squat And I have loved the 3 years degree course. We have covered court reporting, council meetings & colour pieces etc...

If I had've know that the degree would be no good without the MA I would have reconsidered. But I have wanted to 'write for the papers' since I was 7!

I had a chat with 2 of the MA students last week & neither of them thought it would be do-able as I have 2 children Thay said they are in full time from 9-5, 5 days a week & are exhausted.

I'm sorry, I never usually talk much about my degree course, or how disheartened I am at the minute, so forgive me for rambling!!

Get yourself on a Teeline course - it is essential. Shame you've been mucked about but you don't actually need 'a recognised qualification'. Makes things a bit easier, but what you need to do is put yourself out there, make as many contacts and get as much work experience as you possibly can. It's who you know and what you can do that matters.

Most people actually like being helpful and like being asked to share their knowledge. It is always worth asking around... journalism is about asking questions, ask them on your own behalf as well!

Thanks Edam

Thing is, I'm not at all sure that there are any teeline courses in NI apart from the one run by the university I attend. It prides its-self on being "The only place on the island of Ireland that can offer an MA in journalism that complys with the NCTJ"

I am definitely going to ask my lecturer tomorrow morning if there's any way I can do the shorthand module without doing the whole MA.

If you have done the MA, do you think you would have managed it if you had 2 children?

[yawn]

Thanks for the advice, if I get nowhere with my tutor tomorrow I will look online for teeline courses

fireflyfairy - Look at the NCTJ website, there are various NCTJ approved course providers that teach shorthand. You could always teach yourself (I know one or two people who have done so - very successfully) and sit the exam at an NCTJ approved centre.

sorry - just read your last post properly. find out from the nctj if you could sit the shorthand as an external candidate at your college and teach yourself. i have speed tapes i could copy for you if you would like them.

It is possible to teach yourself, but you'd have to be very disciplined. I lost my shorthand speeds when I became an editor and wasn't interviewing people every day any more. Since going freelance I have been trying to practice but RL and work get in the way.. there's always something more urgent that has to be done!

You can take shorthand courses at any secretarial or most FE colleges - don't know if you have Sight and Sound in NI? Try googling Teeline and your location or something.

And no, I don't think I could have done an MA with two children! I'm not sure you really need an MA, tbh. As long as you can find stories, research, interview people and write good copy that is appropriate for the relevant publication, you are capable of doing the job. You just need to find an opportunity - get yourself some work experience ASAP.

edam - you are probably right about having to be very disciplined to teach yourself. If you are in Sainsbury or Waitrose or in the library in vaughan road and find a teeline shopping list -it's mine.

Swedes, do I know you?!

Aw thanks girls.

Swede your offer is lovely & I might just take you up on it, I will send you the tapes though, or at least reimburse you the cost of them.

I had a wee chat with my tutor today, he said the same as you Edam, that I would have to be very disciplined to be able to do the teeline course myself.

I found a couple online last night, one was in a college about 40 miles away & would be a year long. The other was an online course with email tutoring & would last 17 weeks. The second one cost £245 but there was no price for the college course.

My lecturer/tutor today said it could be possible but I would have to give it my all & that email support wasn't really enough.

I am going to email some local papers this week & ask if I can get some work experience. I would even offer to do the council meetings/court duties as it's common knowledge round here that most local newspaper reporters don't like doing it! What do you think?

Would the fact I have 2 children put employers off?

I am best on colour stories really, but have experience in court/council reports too.

Also, over the summer holidays I volunteered to go in & gain some work experience. We filmed small documentaries for the BBC website. It was enjoyable & I got experience behind the camera as well as interviewing people, but it made me realise that TV isn't what I would be interested in.

Thanks for the advice both of you, it really is appreciated. It's difficult to get many people to discuss this with!

edam - I was caroline1852 (name changed because my son said it was the most boring name on mumsnet). I think you said you lived in Harpenden, but I might have got confused?

I meant to add that the girls on the MA course told me they had to pay a re-sit fee as there is a large fail rate the first time they do the shorthand exam!!

Swedes, ah, that makes sense! Yes, I do live in H - IKWYM about lists, When I take a phone message, I automatically used shorthand even if it's actually for someone else (doh!). And have to really concentrate when I'm writing a note not to use the Teeline squiggle for 'Thurs' or whatever.

FF, no problem, I'm really pleased you are doing the course. Well done, that woman!

Personally, I wouldn't mention children at a job interview, certainly not at the first one. Depends on the job, but most in journalism demand flexibility on hours - it may put people off if they think you will be rushing out of the door at 5pm sharp when the paper hasn't yet gone to bed...

I think any properly-run local paper will be careful who they send to cover the courts. I'd be shocked if they sent someone on work experience on their own! There are about 21 different ways an editor can be prosecuted or sued and contempt of court is the scariest, IMO.

...and obviously reporters can be prosecuted/sued too, just that it is not in the editor's own interest to have someone who isn't fully qualified doing court reporting.

LMAO... maybe I should have thought that one through!

Our lecture today was actually on defamation, privacy & how not to get the ass sued off you!