ASPIRING young journalists are being offered a unique opportunity to learn the craft from inside the Jersey Evening Post newsroom as part of a new 16-week evening training course launching next month.
The course, aimed at 16 to 21-year-olds in academic Year 12 and above, will run on Monday evenings at the All Island Media offices in Bath Street starting 9 March, 4.30pm to 6pm, and will give participants hands-on experience of reporting, interviewing, writing and editing – with the chance to see their work published in the newspaper.
Students will learn core journalism skills including how to spot news stories, conduct professional interviews, write clear and accurate copy, understand media law and ethics, and report responsibly using digital and social media.
They will also have the chance to further develop their multi-media skills across other All Island Media platforms, including Bailiwick Express and Bailiwick Radio.
As the course progresses, participants will be set weekly reporting assignments, covering real Island community events, with classroom sessions used to edit and refine their work alongside experienced journalists before seeing their work published.
Places on the programme are strictly limited to ten, with spaces allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
The course is being sponsored by BDO, which has supported the initiative as part of its commitment to developing local talent and skills.
Matt Tabb, chief marketing officer at BDO Jersey, said: “Strong, independent journalism plays a vital role in Island life, and we’re proud to support a programme that gives young people real skills, confidence and insight into an important profession.
“This unique initiative aligns perfectly with our core values of curiosity and credibility, so we are delighted to be given the opportunity to sponsor this opportunity for our Island’s future journalists.”
James Filleul, JEP editor, added: “This course will give young people a genuine insight into what journalism is really like – from covering community events to meeting deadlines and understanding the responsibility that comes with telling important stories.”
Each student will graduate from the course with the foundation skills needed to enter the world of journal- ism and the media, with the added opportunity for some to be admitted into the All Island Media academy.
The course will run on Monday evenings from 4.30pm to 6pm for 16 weeks, excluding school and college holidays, and costs £300 per candidate. Anyone interested in applying should email hr@allisland.media, with the message clearly marked “PRESS PASS APPLICATION”. Applicants should include up to 200 words about themselves and why they would like to take part.
What does it take to be a journalist?
This course is going to be all about learning by doing, writes JEP deputy editor Fiona Potigny
THINKING about applying but not sure journalism’s for you? Let’s bust a few myths… You don’t need perfect spelling. You don’t need to be loud, posh, confident, a political buff or “really good at English”. You don’t need to know what a lede is (yet!), or have ever written for a newspaper or magazine before.
What you do need is curiosity. If you’re the person who asks, “hang on, why is that happening?”, “who decided that?” or even, “can you believe the drama on Jersey Ask Advise Advertise last night?”… that’s journalism (OK, not always the last one…).
If you notice things on TikTok or Instagram that other people tend to scroll past, care about fairness, or like explaining stuff clearly to your friends, you’re already doing the job in some form.
This course is going to be all about learning by doing. You’ll be shown how to ask questions without feeling awkward, write in a way people actually want to read, and handle real stories responsibly. We’ll help you polish your writing, sharpen your nose for news, and build your confidence week by week. Top tip for applying? We don’t need you to try to sound impressive. Just be honest. Tell us what you care about, what frustrates you, or what you’d change about Jersey if you could.
Journalism needs a range of voices from all different backgrounds, not carbon copies of a certain style.
If you’re curious, committed and up for a challenge, we can’t wait to hear from you.
