The course offers specialist training to equip students with the well rounded skills required within this industry; the course focuses on areas such as: interviewing, story construction and specialised reporting such as: court, council and sport plus writing columns, reviews and features; it also introduces the students to subbing (headline writing, layout and proof reading) using QuarkXPress, the industry-standard desktop publishing package; this course was developed in consultation with a consortium of major industry employers as well as the regional newspaper, the Lincolnshire Echo; students on this course are entered for the preliminary examinations of the NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) the 1st stage in gaining a professional qualification recognised by the industry; the course has a practical focus, and students are expected to develop story ideas and contacts, and gather their own material for journalistic work; online production is an integral part of the course with students focusing on the key multi-media skills required by the industry; the course incorporates a work placement to allow students to put their newly developed skills into practice and build valuable experience.