Newspapers in education

IT'S industry or activity day season in many schools this term as pupils get a taste of the world of business and industry.

This is done by running events in school related to issues, problems and tasks in the workplace.

Our NIE scheme offers a range of activities linked to the production of newspapers, including the Newstream and Hotline computer programs.

Two schools using the programs last week, Park High School, Colne, and Westholme School, Blackburn, have both sent us reports of their events, written by pupils.

For more information on the range of material suitable for primary, secondary or further education students, please contact Rita Shaw.

Fast and furious in the world of news

IT was a day of fast and furious activity, developing skills in communication and teamwork during our "Hold the Front Page" industry day at Westholme School, Blackburn.

All girls in year 10 were allocated jobs involved in newspaper production or members of a crisis committee, assisted by visitors from various branches of the media, including reporter Theresa Robson from the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

"Playing the role of sub-editor was exciting and I was able to learn what goes on in the making of a newspaper," was a comment from one student.

Another girl said that she "found it interesting to take the part of reporter, though towards the end of the day it became stressful."

The pace may have been rather daunting for some but most students survived still smiling, and at least one pupil was hooked, deciding that the event had made her even more determined to enter the field of journalism.

By: Elizabeth Boardman, Racheal Cheung, Kate Fenton, Samar Hassan and Gillian Hurn, Westholme School, Blackburn.

A whole new view of life

THE pressures and demands of working on a newspaper were experienced by pupils in Year Nine at Park High School, Colne.

As an extension of their project investigating aspects of the media, groups of pupils created newspaper pages using information spilling out from the computer linked up to the Newstream computer program.

Meanwhile, a separate group formed the Cabinet, making vital decisions about a fictional crisis which developed throughout the day.

A particular bonus of the event was the input from visiting businessmen and women from Lancashire-based companies who advised and assisted the groups in completing their pages by deadline.

Overall it was a busy and enjoyable day which helped pupils to understand the difficult task fulfilled by the media.

By: Emily Gray and Emma Birtwistle, Year Nine, Park High School, Colne.

OUR Newspapers in Education project aims to give pupils and teachers a better understanding of business and industry and, in particular, of the newspaper industry.

For more information on any aspect of the scheme, please contact Rita Shaw, NIE co-ordinator, Lancashire Evening Telegraph, High Street, Blackburn BB1 1HT.

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