Published: Friday, 16th July, 2010 8:00am

Handling the news

Comments (0) | Print | Email

NEWSHOUNDS rushed to get their papers ready for deadline at a school press day.

Students in year 10 at Charters School in Sunningdale got a taste of what it is like to work in a busy newsroom as they produced their own newspapers, news websites and videos for the school's annual Handling the Press day on Friday June 2.

Pupils were put in groups and given titles such as the Sun, Independent and even our very own Ascot News for which they had to research, attend press conferences, write and edit stories.

Sebastian Down was editor of the Charters National News (CNN) website for the day. He said: "I have been making sure everything is done on time and choosing which people should write the different stories.

"It has been hard work but good. We receive a story every three minutes by email and then decide if we want to write about it." The students were writing for a range of publications including tabloids, broadsheet, local news, website and film and had to chose stories that were suitable for their publication.

All of the stories were made up and ranged from claims that a nutritionist was to blame for England's defeat in the world cup to a rumour that Anne Robinson was lying about her age.

Anna Boyd, curriculum leader for ICT said: "They have worked wonderfully together."