Multi-Media Portfolio

At the end of your second term at Up To Speed you will submit a portfolio of your work, which will be marked by the NCTJ. This is an essential component of your qualification and an opportunity for you to showcase your best work.

The portfolio takes slightly different forms depending on the Up To Speed course you choose, but in every case your practical assignments and second-term work placements will be a valuable source of published material.

This is a unit where you can show you have really got what it takes to be a great reporter and writer.

Portfolios For News, Sport and Broadcast Journalists

The Multi-Media Portfolio allows you to show the work you can produce for any medium and at Up To Speed we have always emphasized the need for our journalists to master broadcast, online and print skills.

The subjects you cover may to some extent be dictated by your specialism, but in each case you must include your Public Affairs assignment to show that you are able to tackle a story with a political dimension.

Content options:

Option 1

  • Ten stories 150+ words written for print, web or broadcast
  • One feature 500+ words written for print, web or broadcast
  • One Public Affairs Assignment:

800+ words print or web, 3-4 minutes audio or 1-2 minutes video.

Option 2

  • Eight stories 150+ words written for print, web or broadcast
  • One feature 500+ words written for print, web or broadcast
  • One video 1 minute 30 to two minutes
  • One Public Affairs Assignment:

800+ words print or web, 3-4 minutes audio or 1-2 minutes video.

Portfolios For Magazine Journalists

In the magazine portfolio you can show editors that you can tackle a range of features aimed at readers of all magazine sectors. There are the consumer glossies you might buy to read at home, customer magazines such as the ones you might find on an aeroplane or near the till in your supermarket and there are business-to-business or B2B publications aimed at people running the supermarkets or flying the planes.

The range of stories you include may reflect the places where you have been on work placement, but your finished portfolio must include the following six features:

  • At least one that is clearly aimed at a B2B audience
  • A piece of analysis of at least 800 words
  • An interview of at least 800 words
  • A video piece can be submitted as an additional option

Photographers’ Portfolio

This is designed to show your ability to turn your hand to a range of photographic assignments. It will enable you to show picture editors that you have the skills and versatility to cover a broad spectrum of news and feature subjects using a variety of techniques.

The portfolio includes both still photography and video journalism.

You are required to submit:

  • Ten photographs
  • One video report