SEVENTEEN news hounds descended on the office of the Buckinghamshire Advertiser on Friday to find out how their local paper comes to life each week.
The children from St Mary’s School, Packhorse Road, Gerrards Cross; Thorpe House school, in Oval Way, Gerrards Cross and Robertswood School, Denham Lane, Chalfont St Peter visited the offices, in The Vale, Chalfont St Peter.
With roving questions and inquisitive minds they interviewed photographer John Blandford and reporter Greg Burns, who gave the pupils a talk on how photos and stories are created.
Editor Julie Voyce then demonstrated how the final touches to the paper are put together before the page is passed and printed.
The pupils tested their interviewing skills and spoke about how they enjoy writing at school and showed a particular interest in learning shorthand, the coded method of taking notes.
Sarah Witty, 10, of St Mary’s, said: “We are here to learn about how you make a newspaper. I am interested in the writing and I like to write stories and poems.”
Abby Mitchell, 10, said: “I am not sure what part of a newspaper I would like to work in because I like writing stories. Especially adventure stories.”
Jamie Black, 10, of Robertswood, said: “I also like writing stories.”
Sophie Rees, 10, of Robertswood, said: I like taking pictures. I would like to take pictures of football. I like football and rugby and my football team is Chelsea and in rugby is Wasps.”
Toby Pickard, eight, Robertswood, said: “I like watching the news.”
Richard Emanuel, nine, of Thorpe House, said: “I would like to learn shorthand because I like it when no one knows what I am doing.”
Emily Philpott, eight, said: “I would also like to learn about shorthand although I do not know why.”
St Mary’s teacher Mrs Galustian speaking about the reasons behind the visit said: “All the children have been chosen because they are all pretty good at writing skills.
“They are very able children and we want them to learn to work independently and mix with each other.
“The three schools work together in various subjects and they come together to take part in work shops and this is what we have come here for.”
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