Training and Development

Guild members have access to continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities through occasional workshops on photography, social media, broadcasting and other topics.

Professional development materials are available from the website of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (www.ifaj.org) and workshops often form part of the IFAJ Congress programme.

Information on accredited courses in journalism is available on the website of the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).

The Guild's John Deere-sponsored new entrants training scheme is held  for 10 trainees from different backgrounds: horticulture, agriculture, PR or agri-media and agricultural engineering. Trainees often have very little or no practical experience of journalism. The course is held at John Deere’s headquarters in Nottinghamshire and run by a professional training consultant, with some lectures also delivered by Guild members.

Short-term placements offered by a number of farming and horticultural publications, as well as PR and marketing agencies, provide real-world experience of the profession. The John Deere training scheme award is presented annually to the participant that produces the best article during the course.

For further details of the training course, contact the organiser Steve Mitchell, ASM PR on 024 7630 8912.