Making the news!
Date published: 15 November 2010
THE TAKEOVER TEAM . . . Meeting Chronicle Editor David Whaley are (from the left) Emma O'Donnell, Joshua Payne, Chantel Birtwistle, Zoe James, Yasmin Jolly, Jess Mallard.
Youth Council team enjoys Chronicle takeover day experience
DEADLINES, tearful interviewees and muddy feet — it was all in a day’s work for the team from Oldham Youth Council in their 11 Million Takeover Day experience here at the Oldham Evening Chronicle.
They got a real taste of the action as they took part in reporting the news as part of a nationwide day organised by the Children’s Commissioner.
There was an early start for the team as they got a taste of how the newspaper is put together talking to reporters, photographers and sub-editors.
And the work of the Youth Council could not have been more prominent as they cast their eyes over Friday’s front-page news — their own “Every Life Matters” campaign and hard-hitting “The Split Second” play promoting safe driving among teenagers.
Then, for most of the team, it was off out to report on news events as they happened while Editor for the day 16-year-old Joshua Payne, from Blue Coat School, took charge of the paper’s morning conference before settling down to write a special Youth Comment leader column for Monday’s edition (see Page 8).
“It was amazing to see the relentless nature of the news, no sooner was Friday completed than the team were already busy working towards Monday. It was fascinating,” said Joshua.
Jasmin Jolly (17) and Zoe James, both from Hulme saw the Takeover Day from the other side when they witnessed morning assembly and work in the kitchens at Whitegate End Primary School, Chadderton, where the pupils were in charge for the day.
“The nine-year old head was very calm and did really well,” said Yasim while Zoe was thrilled to be able to get to interview the head teacher about the project.
It was a subject close to the heart for Emma O’Donnell (16) from Blue Coat and 19-year-old Bolton University student Chantel Birtwistle as they went along to Oldham Sixth Form College for a follow-up story to “The Split Second” play launch.
Said Emma: “It was very emotional — especially when they played the audio from Becca Dale at the end of the play and some of those in tears were not too willing to speak to us.
“Some though really wanted to talk about what they had witnessed and how it affected them.”
And the muddy feet? Well they belonged to intrepid Jess Mallard (15) from North Chadderton School.
She went out on a picture feature at a very wet St Joseph’s in Shaw but bravely battled on to get her story.
