unbelievable.

As a past student of the course I'm actually a little surprised that it's still going to run.

and I can't explain how surprised I am that they've decided to go with a teacher who has no teaching qualifications in this day and age... wait... I'm not surprised because this is the NCTJ we're talking about!!

For all that Delmar taught me - mainly about his personal experiences, and even then you had to take them all with a pinch of salt, as you had literally no idea whether the guy was ever telling the truth - I still feel that my money would have been better spent elsewhere.
And that was when it was £1000, not this monstrous figure they have right now.

The qualification doesn't even mean anything.
Heck, you don't even have to sit to pre lim, you can go straight to the NCE at the discretion of the tutor!!! oh and that's not even to mention the block release not having to hand in a portfolio!!

I learned nothing productive from the course. Nothing about how the industry works or how to run as a freelancer... and as delmar would always remind us, we'd learn that out in the field than we would on the course.

So what's the point in the course if you can go and do some work experience at a few papers without the qualifications??

It's a sham. You're just put through a grind to remove any sort of creativity in an effort to turn you into another run of the mill press photographer.

Guest lecturers? never heard of them. Occasionally someone would come up and we'd go to the pub with them to pick their brains while some stupid girl would be flirting with them to try and get some "work experience".
But that is not how guest lecturing works (at least on a real course!)

I beg anyone going on the course this year to reconsider their options.

During your interviews with delmar, I presume mentioned about the current flock of students etc. He usually says all or 90% of them are working in the industry or on placements etc. It's not true. It's a complete joke.
As far as he's concerned if you own a camera, or will be looking for work then you're a freelancer! so you're in the industry! this is no lie.

I think when I was there, about 4 people out of the 20 got jobs by the end, heck about 5 left the course before the end. Do the math, obviously the NCTJ can't!

Finally look at the work that is available from this new tutor. Ask yourself the question, does it inspire you. What can you learn from this.

You've got a massive advantage over previous years, where if you were lucky, you'd find the odd photo of maggie thatcher taken by delmar, where as now, you've got a whole load of shit to wade through!

Oh and lets not even get on to the conflict of interest employing rathbone who's a member of the board for the course?

did he have a casting vote on it? completely discusting.

Journalism = accuracy

As a college providing journalism training, they could get their facts right. This isn't the last photojournalism course in the UK - we're still offering the same course, same syllabus and same exams, as we have been since 2003.

Judging by the comments above, we're a lot cheaper, too - £894.50, payable by instalments.

Criticism of Rob Rathbone

A previous commentator asks why has Rob Rathbone been appointed to run the press photographers course at Sheffield when he has no teaching qualifications?

Well, you see, press photography is a practical trade - not an academic discipline.

Its something you learn stood, crapping yourself, outside magistrates court.

Its something you learn sat behind the goal covering Forrest v Gillingham on a freezing cold afternoon when its pissing with rain.

Anybody who is lucky enough to get on the course will get the benefit of one thing you cant get from books - experience!

Why has Rob Rathbone been appointed to teach this course?

Because he is a bloody good, and widely respected, press photographer who has been there and done it - thats why!

Thank Goodness!

Well done in appointing Rob, he'll do a fabulous job and I wholeheartedly endorse the comment by Chris Eades!

In this day and age where anybody who slings a DSLR around their neck is ready to call themselves a 'professional photographer', it is heartening to see that photojournalism is still a subject that will be taught in higher education.

I went to college, did a full time OND in Photography & Design and then later a C&G in Photojournalism in the 80's and the very VERY best lecturers were those who came in one day a week and were actual working photographers, not the actual qualified lecturers themselves.

Their experience was totally invaluable and I still recall their advice even now.

This profession is going down the pan faster than a dustcart on ice and this is one appointment which goes someway to offering a glimmer of hope.

Good on you Rob and I wish you all the very best

Matt Sprake
Managing Director
NewsPics Ltd

Cowardly anonymous attack and the future of the NCTJ

I don't know either Rob Rathbone or Paul Delmar personally or professionally but I have an extremely high regard for a great number of working colleagues who have studied on this "the" NCTJ course in the past and I find it extremely cowardly that "don't want to give my name" launches such a venomous and unconstructive attack anonymously.

There are huge criticisms that can be made of current photographic education in the UK but as a working press photographer with the experience of study and graduation from a highly regarded degree level Editorial Photography course, I would recommend any potential student with a desire to actually make a career in press photography to seriously consider the NCTJ course taught by a working photographer, over those taught by academics and photographers who, whilst they may have teaching qualifications, can't or chose not to take the risk of making it in the real world of an industry in difficult turbulent and rapidly changing times.

The people I gained the most from while studying wasn't from those with paper qualifications, something that never gets asked for in industry but from working photographers who gave presentations as visiting lecturers and from a few fellow students who like me actually went on to make a career in photography rather that having the pretentions to become "artists" or simply then choosing to go to work in other industries

I wish the NCTJ course, its tutors and current and future students well and hope that the course gives real world, vocational training rather than that so unrealistically offered by the dozens of so called highly regarded academic degree level courses that produce students that are either ill prepared for the industry or have their head so far up their arses that they'll never earn enough to repay their Student Loans let alone make a living from photography.

I personally would rate a working professional as a tutor over an academic any day and do not see the lack of a piece of paper saying he can teach as being any sort of negative point.

The NCTJ course needs support from the industry and working photographers, not cowardly anonymous attacks on a forum that is read worldwide.

Terry Kane
Eyewitness Images Ltd

Thank You Paul

I was on the full time course 88-89 and it turned my life around. Paul Delmar was a fantastic tutor and a inspiration. 100% of the course got jobs with newspapers or agencies.
What Mr No Name fails to grasp is that the industry has changed and will always change. Staff jobs are gone and newspapers and magazines rely more on freelancers now.
If you are good and determined then you will get your chance but no one is going to wave a magic wand and do it all for you. I feel Paul gave invaluable advice and lessons not only in photography but in life.
After 10 years working staff for newspapers I started my own agency and everyday something that Paul said or taught rings true.
So Anon put your hand down your pants find your balls and put your name to your post.

Anonymous Attack

The appointment of Rob Rathbone to this role means that the future of press photography is in good hands, VERY good hands. I'm sure Mr Rathbone doesn't have any teaching qualifications, because he has been busy being one of the best press photographers to be found anywhere.
How dare this anonymous fool, obviously a failed photographer, criticise someone I doubt he has ever met and obviously knows very little about.
Mr Rathbone has worked and still works for all the National Newspaper picture desks, he can pick up the phone to any Picture Editor at any time and work placements would never be a problem!
For those who are thinking about signing up for this years course all I can say is do it! Do it now you will find no finer teacher anywhere, press photography cannot be taught in a classroom on a blackboard! You learn by experience, you learn by someone like Mr Rathbone taking you under his wing and explaining things that would take a lifetime to workout for yourself. Please don't take any notice of Mr Anonymous, this course is the best around and just got better!

Course has opened doors for me

I too am sick of hearing all the bad mouthing going on about the course and it's past / current tutors.

I joined the course knowing absolutely jack about press photography. I had a crappy camera and didn't know the first thing about CCDs, Photoshop, lenses or flash. I was taken onboard because I needed a change in life and I made it perfectly clear to Delmar during my interview.

Some didn't get work at the end of the course. Sorry about that. Lots of people boasted how they didn't want one anyway. Apparently the work wasn't worth it and was dull / boring.

I did find a job and it's by far the best job I've ever had. Court cases, drug raids, football, cricket, the odd C-list celeb, festivals and art exhibitions, press trips abroad etc etc.

I have Paul Delmar and Norton College to thank for this new life, as well as my colleagues at the Derby Telegraph. Do we all think that Paul was a fully qualified teacher when he launched the course? Hmmm...

Everyone has a valid opinion; it becomes more respectable when it has a name to it.

Matthew Harrison, Derby Telegraph

NCTJ photojournalism course

Having spent the academic year of 2009 /10 on placement at Norton College in the photography dept while undertaking a PGCE I found Paul Delmar to be a most welcoming and genial person. I had many interesting conversations with him. As for the course I cannot say what it was like because my interaction with it was limited unfortunately. What I can say is that Education at the moment is in a shambolic state and photography education particularly and Norton College Photography Dept is no exception to that. I would advise anyone thinking of forking out a lot of money to attend a photography course to give it serious consideration. There are other ways to learn the subject. Most if not all of the students I came into contact with came out of a two year BTEC photography course ill equipped, ill disciplined and totally put off photography in any way shape or form. They were proficient in Facebook though. The staff were similarly demoralized spending a lot of time contemplating the thought of voluntary or compulsory redundancies. The decision to retain the course at Norton will almost certainly been a financial one i.e. will it make any profit for the College books ? rather than an educational need and that is not the way to provide education to society.

I have to admit here that I found the PGCE at Sheffield Hallam and the placement at Norton a nightmare for various reasons. Some out of my control, some not.

Grains of truth

As a former student on this course, albeit some 28 years ago now and still a working press photographer, I too find the anonymous criticism distasteful. I don't think the academic and technical side of the course was ever top notch. What it did give you was the confidence to go out and approach people you'd never met before and persuade them into having their pictures taken, from the man in the street to national celebrities . Delmar was ever the optimist... nothing ventured nothing gained .. what's the worst that could happen... That's the secret of this course, turning nervous students frightened of making a phone call into photographers capable of dealing with anybody and any situation, which is most of what a press photogs job entails. The technical stuff is not rocket science , and you can develop an eye for a good pic given time and experience. I hope the course throws in a few business skills nowadays as most of us are going to end up as freelancers or on short term contracts, that's just the way the industry is going. I wish Rob lots of luck.

Good Luck, Rob - and thanks Paul

I'd forgotten through my "rose-coloured spectacles" about press photography that actually on the periphery there were tossers like "I don't want to give my name"! Can't comment further through the "red mist" he has created in me...

Well done Rob on the appointment - a suitable successor to Paul. And a big thank you to Paul for the inspiration he gave to me and others whose life thrived in so many ways from being involved in press photography.