Become a Journalist

Train with PA Media / PA Training

Job Prospects

The most important question you should ask when considering a journalism course is – what are the chances of getting a job at the end of it?

The truth is with the PA Training behind you your chances are very good. You will still need to be determined, work hard, and most importantly, be applying for jobs in the right places. We can assist you with that, and you will have the benefit of our contacts with news organisations across the country in getting that first, crucial job.

Training with us is a mark of distinction. Editors value the skills our graduates can bring straight to the workplace. Many of them will have trained with us themselves, or if not, they will know many journalists who have. Our courses are fully accredited, and grant you a diploma which carries serious weight with employers.

But why take just our word for it? Below, you will see some of the many graduates of our course who have gone on to successful careers in journalism.

Where are they now?

Alan Selby

Alan Selby: Reporter, Daily Mirror

“Since starting the PA course… I’ve won the NCTJ Student Journalist of the Year award, been named Trinity Mirror’s Young Journalist of the Year and been shortlisted for the national Press Awards’ Young Journalist of the Year. I doubt I’d have been able to do any of it without the training I got on the Press Association course.”

“It really is a baptism of fire, but in a few short, extremely intensive months I know I got first-class training that properly equipped me for the real world of journalism. It really is streets ahead of any other course out there.”

Tallulah Berry

Tallulah Berry: BBC World Service

“Without the PA course I certainly wouldn’t be where I am now.”

“In the current climate choosing to be a journalist is tougher than ever but the support that each student received at PA helped us all to get that much closer to achieving our goals.”

Tom is in a dark suit, looking at the camera

Tom Newton Dunn: Political Editor, The Sun

“I learned the craft of news reporting from some fantastic professionals, whose wisdom I have always kept with me.”

“Their same skills and principles – so powerfully imparted – always apply, whether it’s on a cold and miserable celebrity doorstep, a conflict zone of Iraq or Afghanistan, or Westminster’s corridors of power.”

Jenna is wearing a dark jacket and is smiling at the camera

Jemma Crew: Multimedia Reporter, Press Association

“Doing the course was the best decision I ever made. I’m now lucky enough to have my dream job as a multimedia reporter on PA’s London graduate scheme.”

“I’m so proud of what my friends and I achieved during the course and immensely grateful to the course tutors for their encouragement, which continues even now.

“Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.”

George has short brown hair and is looking at the camera

George Martin: News Reporter, Daily Star

“The course has been invaluable in helping me find a job and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking to get more serious about a career in journalism.”

“I learnt so much during my 17 weeks at PA, both in terms of technique and also from the myriad of successful journalists who came in to talk to us.”

“The intensity of the training programme is the perfect preparation for being thrown in at the deep end at a national paper. Within minutes of starting work I found myself applying the legal theory which had been painstakingly memorised for the NCTJ exams.”

“There were plenty of late nights and stressful moments, but I can honestly say it has all been worth it.”

Charlotte is smiling at the camera

Charlotte Duckworth: Managing Editor HousetoHome

“I landed a job as a sub-editor straight after leaving, feeling confident in my skills and ability.”

“It’s hard to believe that you can learn so much in such a short period of time, but with the emphasis on practical tasks rather than endless lectures and theory, you really do pick things up quickly – and most importantly, you remember them!”

For three years Charlotte was the Managing Editor of IPC’s homes network, working on the ground-breaking homes portal, housetohome.co.uk, from its launch. It is now the UK’s largest consumer interiors website.

She also worked across its sister sites: homesandgardens.com, livingetc.com and idealhomemagazine.co.uk, before they were merged into housetohome.co.uk.

On my time working on the sites, she created hundreds of pieces of content, on all manner of home interest topics – from commissioning bespoke kitchens to how to avoid the most common DIY mistakes. She also undertook several video interviews of high-profile industry experts, such as Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen.