The Experience of Being and Thinking like a Journalist

 by George Shivjee

Mark Waldron presents an inspirational workshop for budding writers and journalists from multiple schools across Portsmouth.

On Monday 26 June, Mark Waldron, A journalist from ‘The News’, gave a workshop at the Portsmouth Grammar School to the best writers in the middle schools of Portsmouth Academy, St Edmunds, Priory, Castle view, Mayville high, ALNS and PGS. He was here to inspire these junior writers, with the techniques of journalism ( e.g putting the most important information first in a newspaper), the interesting things you do in journalism ( e.g meeting famous and inspirational people in every corner of our Country), while the hardships of it all ( e.g time limits for the writing of articles).

He put the students right into the job by getting them to write their own news articles all about their own school communities, packing 500 words insid in only an hour! The students came up with topics like Recycling at their school, Diversity and equality in Portsmouth, Economy, Climate Change affecting their school and even about the workshop itself. The pupils used their knowledge of words and techniques of their own, but also techniques advised by Mark Waldron himself to craft interesting articles that would be published on ‘The News’ later that week.

Many pupils thought that this event was optimal. Robson Y, 12, a pupil at PGS said, “This event was extremely helpful, and made me realise that Journalism is not a career for some, it is a career for many.” Another student said, “I am so glad we had this experience; I got to miss a horrendous food tech test! But honestly, it was great.” Some pupils came out of the room as a new Journalist, some came out filled with knowledge, some still as tired as they were at the start of the drowsy Monday morning! But all of them came out as even better writers. Thank You Mark Waldron!