The National Council for the Training of Journalists is to start offering PR courses.

Public Relations is to be added to the list of skills being taught by the NCTJ.

At the NCTJ Journalism Training Conference, Adam Thompson, former journalist at the Express and Star, mentioned that PR courses should be offered.

 

Thompson said: "We deal with each other every day - and we are a lot more similar than you think."

Alun Thorne, a former editor of the Coventry Telegraph, who left for a PR job two years ago, supported Thompson, saying: "I have never lied for a client. I have spun like hell, but I have never lied. The two jobs were not the same, but it made sense for a journalism training course to include the opportunity to understand the PR industry.”

Although the NCTJ will be offering the training, it will be optional.

Chairman of the NCTJ and former Fleet Street executive, Kim Fletcher, is now Director of PR for Brunswick. As a former journalist, he said on the matter: "I am surprised that the press don't ask tougher questions. And I'm disappointed by that."