I really must take this opportunity to place on record how proud I am of my postgraduate trainees at Leeds Trinity University College this year. They've been on placement since October 10th.
Most of them are doing two or three contrasting placements with different newsrooms. Now the assessments from host editors are starting to filter back in I'm blown away to discover that no fewer than 11 out of 13 trainees for whom I have an assessment back have been graded 'A' by their supervisors. That's 85% of the class.
That has to be just about the best result ever. Grade A indicates the editor's opinion to be "I would give this trainee a job if one were available".
One editor has actually gone further; Corinne Wheatley, who joined us just ten months ago hoping for the chance of an opening in news, has achieved a staff job at Viking FM in Hull. I suppose we have to record that as an A+.
Three other trainees have freelance shifts arranged with the BBC in various locations over the coming weeks and months. None of them actually graduate until next month.
So despite the gloom and doom in the economy, there is still a glimmer of hope for new entrants with the right attitude and the right training.
It's not as easy as it was (say) four years ago, when 8 or 9 out of 10 Leeds Trinity trainees could walk into roles straight off the course, but clearly the opportunities are still there for those with the determination, the flexibility - and the good fortune to be in the right place at the right time. Well done, guys.
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