THE challenge had been accepted, but as deadline approached the front page was incomplete.

News teams were working flat out to finish assignments and reach their readers by lunchtime - would they make it?

This was all part of a busy NIE event for year eight students at Rhyddings High School who spent a morning discovering some of the highs and lows of journalism as they were given "real life" roles by NIE co-ordinator Rita Shaw, to produce pages of their own newspapers using items from the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

"It's not as easy as we thought it would be," said 12-year-old Jacob Heap. "Making sure that everything is in the right place and on time is a difficult job and relies on team effort."

The four editors for the day found their task particularly stressful as they kept their teams on track while making vital decisions.

Salma Ahmed decided she would probably not now be aiming at newspaper editor as a career, although all students agreed the experience had been fun and one they would remember.

Richard Ferley, head of English at the Oswaldtwistle school, was particularly pleased at the outcome of the event. "I am surprised by the way in which everyone has become involved so quickly," he said.

Pictured are pupils from year eight at Rhyddings High School working on pages of their newspaper while NIE co-ordinator Rita Shaw, back right, looks on.

By Adrienne Cook, Jacob Heap, Claire Broadley, Shelley Clifford and Leanne Cudley.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.