Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds have taken part in a four-day programme designed to give them a taste of a career in journalism.
The JMU Journalism team worked with 24 young people, aged between 15 and 19, to develop ideas and then film, edit, and present a TV bulletin, centred on the theme of climate change.
Liverpool John Moores University was awarded funding to deliver the programme by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) as part of its ‘Into Journalism’ outreach project.
The programme introduced participants to journalism and encouraged them to explore stories around the theme ‘Liverpool, a world leader on climate action’, reflecting the city’s recent recognition as the world’s first UN Accelerator City for climate action.
The young people, who also planned and recorded podcasts, explored a wide range of climate-related stories across Merseyside — from music and sport to fashion and politics.
Guided by academics and journalism student mentors, they experienced the full journalistic process, from finding and pitching stories to interviewing and filming.
Dr Sarah Haynes, subject leader at LJMU, said: “We were so impressed with the young people that we worked with. They were passionate and committed to finding good stories to tell.
“The experience they had convinced most of them of the importance of journalism, and they described the role of journalist as enjoyable, exciting, and fun.
“They appreciated talking to journalists and hearing about what the job entailed, the challenges, and the opportunities. They enjoyed meeting other like-minded and motivated young people and said it boosted their confidence.”
Well, that's a wrap! 🎉Huge congratulations to this fantastic group of talented local students, celebrating the completion of their four-day @NCTJ_news @JMUJournalism programme @LJMU, making new friends and developing professional Journalism skills across Liverpool! 👏🎬#outreach pic.twitter.com/XRWiRwL4Dq
— LJMU Outreach (@LJMUOutreach) April 15, 2025
The NCTJ’s ‘Into Journalism’ initiative, initially launched in 2023, aims to address the social mobility challenges highlighted by its recent research.
The 2024 Journalists at Work report revealed that 67 per cent of journalists have a parent in one of the top three occupational groups, compared to just 45 per cent of all UK workers.
Sarah Rix, head of marketing and communications at the NCTJ, said: “Ensuring journalism is open to everyone, regardless of background, is a key priority for the NCTJ.
“Through this outreach project, we want to introduce more young people to the industry, giving them the opportunity to develop key skills and an understanding of what a journalism career could offer.
“By focusing on climate journalism, Liverpool John Moores University has demonstrated how journalism can have a meaningful impact on important issues, while giving participants hands-on experience in essential journalistic skills.”
To celebrate the work produced across the outreach project, the NCTJ will award a prize for the best piece of journalism created across all participating centres.
The other centres awarded funding were City of Liverpool College, Darlington College, University of Lincoln, University of Portsmouth, and University of Sunderland.
What a fantastic start to our four-day @JMUJournalism @NCTJ_news programme @LJMU!👏There is lots to look forward to as local students gain hands-on experience as a working journalist, covering stories from music and fashion to sports and politics, across Liverpool.📸@LJMUScreen pic.twitter.com/Qp3mh9eQ12
— LJMU Outreach (@LJMUOutreach) April 10, 2025