The Media classroom at Dorcan Technology College turned into a newsroom twice in two weeks, as Swindon Advertiser journalist Stephanie Tye came in to share her tricks of the trade.

Pupils doing the Media Diploma learned how to use professional cameras and wrote scripts for a news report. The report was recorded and now features on the Student Adver website.

The Dorcan students were given a real insight into life as a journalist as Ms Tye talked about where to look for a worthy news story and how to write scripts.

Pupils also watched three newsreels before recording their own news headlines which included a weather report and sports round up.

Sam Hackett, 14 and a student on the diploma course said of the visit; ‘Steph was really friendly and gave us confidence to work harder’.

Elliot Watling, 15 said; ‘She had experience and it was great to hear what she knew about journalism and the media scene’ As well as teaching the children how to write news stories, Ms Tye also taught them how to use professional cameras, which particularly excited pupil Luke Newton; ‘ I was very interested in the cameras they use in journalism, and I now feel able to use one myself’.

As well as proving invaluable to the diploma students Steph also visited the Media Club, where budding young journalists and photographers gather once a week. Danielle Christopher, 11, who goes to the club every week said; ‘I learned a lot about journalism when she came to visit’.

Ellie Burn, also 11 commented; ‘It was good that a proper reporter came in. It was interesting finding out how they got their stories’ The children learnt how to write an article, as well as learning how to find a news story which would interest the local community.

‘I’m excited about actually going to report on my own news story. I thought Steph was cool because she has interviewed famous people’ said pupil Leah Pryer.

The visit really inspired pupils at the school, and was a huge success. The children and staff all want to say a big thank you for her time and look forward to seeing her again really soon.