At Merchant Taylors’, we are always proud to see our students take on new challenges and explore their interests beyond the classroom. This year, Monty H. (Divs), took part in the Young Reporter Scheme—a national journalism programme run by Newsquest that gives young people the opportunity to write and publish real news stories. Out of approximately 1,200 students who participated across the country, Monty was one of only 30 in his year group to reach the semi-final stage. This is a remarkable achievement, and we are delighted to share his reflections on the experience.
Here’s what Monty said about his experience:
After finding out about the scheme in September, I had not considered journalism as a career path but had enjoyed writing in English and decided to take part. At first, it was difficult to think of what to write about in my local area, let alone interview members of the public! But by the end of Young Reporter, I was constantly looking for possible articles and learning more about the events and issues in my local area—from Thames Water sewage spills to the opening of a new Greggs.
Of course, the scheme has taught me how to write as a journalist, but this was hardly the only thing I learned. For one, I learnt about what I could and could not do in my articles, making sure I didn’t infringe copyright when using others’ photos or misquote the people I interviewed.
I learnt about stories, people, and organisations in my town I otherwise would not have known about. For example, I met some of the volunteers at my local girls’ football team, who explained the challenges they faced when providing access to football for girls.
