Jill Dando News Centre
What is the Jill Dando News Centre?
April 2019 marked twenty years since we lost the extraordinary BBC presenter, Jill Dando. Having studied at Worle Community School, Dando is a huge local success story. Students from Ashcombe have taken inspiration from her positive journalistic work and created a legacy in her home town. Every week budding journalists across year 5 and 6 meet at the Jill Dando News Centre in the heart of the school to interview, write, photograph, film and edit the latest ‘hot off the press’ news. Unlike so much of today’s press, the journalists follow one rule: every story must be a positive and inspiring one.
Our current journalists are Logan, Sienna, Imogen, Maxwell, Charlie and Jack.
🎯 What Students Do
Students take part in activities such as:
- Interviewing public figures (MPs, mayors, journalists, sports figures)
- Writing and editing uplifting news content
- Photographing and filming events
- Publishing stories on the Good News Post and school media screens
Every story must follow the central rule: positive, inspiring news only.
🌍 Growth & Global Reach
The project has expanded not only across the UK but even internationally (including Malawi), supported by high‑profile patrons such as:
- Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker of the House of Commons)
- Nigel Dando
- Andrew Scott (Ascot Group)
- Dan Aldridge MP [somersetlive.co.uk]
🏛 Local Significance & Connection to Jill Dando
The newsroom is strongly tied to Jill Dando’s early career at the Weston Mercury.
Students get the opportunity to visit the historic building (now Weston Town Council offices), where Jill first worked, and meet officials who share stories about her life and professionalism.
A blue plaque now honours Jill at the former newsroom building, reinforcing the importance of the project in preserving her legacy.
The Good News Post is a UK digital publication celebrating inspiring stories and uplifting journalism that promotes positivity, hope, well-being, and a happier outlook on life. Please visit their website to see the latest stories by clicking here: Good News Post
Links to our latest news stories:
