Foundation Course for New Journalists
The Journalism Foundation is designed specifically for new journalists taking up a role at the BBC.
Its aim is to give new journalists the best possible start to their career.
Every new BBC journalist joins the Foundation soon after they've been recruited. It comprises face-to-face and online learning, along with personal and professional development programmes.
The roots of the Foundation go back to the Hutton Inquiry of 2004, set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly, the government scientist named by BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan as the source of a story on Iraq's supposed weapons of mass destruction.
The subsequent Neil Report set out lessons learnt from Hutton and strongly recommended the BBC set up a College of Journalism to improve the skills of its journalists, including a thorough induction programme.
The Foundation is the direct result.
A key part is an intensive week-long study programme, usually about three months after the new journalist has joined. It brings together around 15 new journalists at a time, from right across the BBC - whether based in the UK or abroad.
About 200 new recruits go through the Foundation every year. Its aim is to inspire new joiners and and introduce them to the values and vision of BBC journalism.
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