Mailonline looking for trainee journalists

The MailOnline trainees returned to Kensington this week after their three-month placements at the Mail in Glasgow and Dublin, the Press Association and the Manchester Evening News. It is good to have them back. They are having training on the content system with Nick Enoch before joining the newsroom. I said goodbye to the Daily Mail’s reporting trainees on Friday who are are now off on their placements and I have one final week with the trainee subs who are creating pages for breaking stories and new sections and supplements. 

This year's MailOnline trainees (and me)

My attention now turns to recruiting for the next MailOnline course which will start in March. The new trainees will have four weeks training at the Mail's offices in Derry Street, followed by three months' placement in the regions before returning to the MailOnline newsroom. We are looking for young journalists for both news and sport who want to work for one of the world’s biggest English-language newspaper website. This is a hugely rewarding job. If you are looking for nine-to-five, though, it's not for you. Trainees need to be prepared to work for a round-the-clock operation with nightshifts and regular weekends. But if you fancy covering national and international news and sport at a fast pace, we look forward to hearing from you. The details on how to apply are here. 

Niamh wins the newsquiz champagne

Trainees John Abiona, Robyn Schaffer, Poppy Sowerby, Lilly Subbotin, Alice Feilden, Niamh Lynch with the champagne, Imogen Horton, Sophie Huskisson, Natasha Livingstone, Piri Thirunimalan, Jess Broadbent, Clara Gaspar, Tali Fraser 

I said farewell to the Daily Mail reporting trainees today. They now go to the Mail newsrooms in London, Dublin and, Glasgow on placement. They are a bright and likeable bunch. I wish them well and look forward to their success stories. The trainee subs have another week to go. The reporting trainees had some first class sessions this week. They enjoyed talks by Susie Coen from the investigations team, business correspondent Tom Witherow, showbiz reporter Eleanor Sharples and assistant editor (politics) Simon Walters. On Wednesday editor Geordie Greig talked about his vision, offered advice, inspired them and took questions in his office. Today they had safety awareness training from Charlie McGrath and Grant Wootton. The subs laid out Mail pages with training and guidance from Mike Brough and did long-form journalism with Fiona Webster. Last night we had farewell drinks in the Greyhound. We finished the week, as always, with the newsquiz. This week’s winner was Imogen Horton with 20, ahead of Clara Gaspar on 18.5. The top scoring reporter over the three weeks was Niamh Lynch who won the Champagne.
In last week’s quiz Simon, Sue and Will Cole just missed out on a rare 100 per cent score with 24.5, ahead of Marc Beyeler’s team with 22 and Maura and Phil Parsons with 19. The top scorer was trainee Niamh Lynch with 21, ahead of Janet Boyle and Stuart Bagnall on 20, Marguerite Turner and Toby Brown on 17 and Jayme Bryla on 16.5. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and let me know your score.

Today's newspapers

1. Which company said it was cutting deliveries at 90 per cent of its petrol stations?
2. In his first address as US President to the UN General Assembly Joe Biden said: ‘As we close this period of ___ war, we’re opening a new era of ___ diplomacy.’ What is the missing word?
3. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the UN General Assembly in New York that who was wrong when he sang It's Not Easy Bein’ Green?
4. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, referring to the Aukus defence pact, told French president Emmanuel Macron to 'donnez-moi un' what and 'prenez un’ what. Half a point for each word
5. The Labour Party conference is being held this weekend in which city?
6. Why were Green and Avro in the headlines?
7. What was the job of 28-year-old Sabina Nessa who was murdered and whose body was found in Cator Park in London?
8. Damien Bendall was charged with the 'sleepover murders' of three children and a mother this morning (Friday) at which crown court?
9. Insulate Britain protesters glued themselves to HGVs on the A20 today (Friday) blocking the route to where?
10. In an interview with NBC in New York, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that he had (at least) how many children?
11. Thousands of people were forced to flee lava spewing from the Cumbre Vieja volcano on which island?
12. Ofcom added words to its offensive list including gammon, snowflake, remoaner and which name that has come to mean ‘a middle-class, white, entitled and aggressive woman’?
13. Name one of the two new underground stations which opened in London this week on the revamped Northern Line.
14. Princess Beatrice's daughter, born this week, is not eligible for a royal title from the Queen but will be given what title from her father's Italian family?
15. Heidi Crowter, 26, who has what condition, lost her argument in the High Court that the law that allowed abortions up to birth, if the foetus was disabled, was discriminatory?
16. What is the name of the Harry Potter actor who collapsed while playing in a pre-Ryder cup celebrity golf tournament?
17. Who said she had attended the National Television Awards wearing a silver off-the-shoulder jumpsuit cut across her chest as 'a kind of goodbye to the body I’ve been living in all these years’?
18. Only Fools And Horses actor John Challis, who died aged 79, is to have a street named after him in which European city, where the mayor said: ‘It’s the only way to repay a man who loved our country’?
19. Jimmy Greaves, who died aged 81, is the all time highest scorer in English top flight football with 357 goals. He scored 220 for Tottenham but for which two teams did he score the others? Half a point for each.
20. The director of the latest 007 movie No Time To Die, Cary Fukunaga, said that Sean Connery's James Bond was 'basically’ what?
21. The MCC, recognised as the authority on cricketing laws, replaced which word with a gender-neutral alternative to 'recognise the changing landscape’?
22. Singer Liam Gallagher shared a picture of himself with facial cuts and a plaster over his nose after he did what on the Isle of Wight?
23. Which former supermodel announced she was suing the makers of a cosmetic procedure which left her 'permanently deformed’?
24. What was celebrated by 7,590 people in Britain last year - a 52 per cent rise on the previous year and the highest number in history?
25. Michaela Coel became the first black woman to win the Emmy for Outstanding Writing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie for her work on which show?

Answers here

Niamh scores 21 in the newsquiz

A panel of last year's trainees take questions

The Mail trainees had a busy second week in Kensington. They enjoyed sessions with consultant editor Andrew Pierce, deputy editor of Mail Plus Ailsa Leslie, and associate news editor Tom Payne. Editor Emeritus Peter Wright talked about the Editor’s Code in detail and there was a full-day with the lawyers. A panel of last year's trainees also talked about the experience and took questions. This year's reporters also pitched stories to chief reporter Sam Greenhill and they all presented ideas to MailOnline travel editor Ted Thornhill. I have no doubt they will be published soon. They wrote personality profiles, tackled stories from the wire and the subs looked at headlines in detail. We finished as always with the newsquiz. This week’s winner was Niamh Lynch with an impressive 21.

Last week’s newsquiz was clearly a tough one with the top scores well below average. Highest scorer was trainee Clara Gasper with 17.5, just ahead of John Abiona, Niamh Lynch, Stuart Bagnall, Marguerite Turner, Gavin Devine and Toby Brown all on 17. The top team were the drinkers in The Three Legs, Peter, Stacey, Nicky and Les, who scored 19 ahead of Maura and Phil Parsons on 18. Here is this week’s quiz. Give it a go and see if you can beat Niamh's score.

A selection of last week's newspapers

1. In the Cabinet reshuffle Liz Truss replaced Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab who was given three positions - Justice Secretary, Lord Chancellor and which other?

2. Who replaced Gavin Williamson as Education Secretary in the Cabinet reshuffle?
3. The Office for National Statistics said the Consumer Price Index jumped from 2 per cent in July to what per cent in August - the biggest monthly increase since records began?
4. Labour leader Keir Starmer has written an essay of how many words, setting out his vision for the party which he will share on the eve of its annual conference next week?
5. What decision was Health Secretary Sajid Javid referring to when he said: 'If you did know what I knew, because you are sensible, responsible people, you would have made exactly the same decision - of that I have no doubt’?
6. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he wasn’t as familiar with whose work as he should be although he was familiar with Nikki Kanani, superstar GP of Bexley?
7. What was the first name of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s mother, who he described as his family’s ’supreme authority’, who died at the age of 79?
8. A historic security pact, in which Australia will build nuclear-powered submarines to counter a threat from China, is to be known as what?
9. What is the name of the Extinction Rebellion off-shoot group whose activists brought traffic to a standstill on the M25?
10. Emma Raducanu was ranked number 345 in the world at the start of 2021 and No 179 after Wimbledon. What is her ranking after winning the US Open?
11. Public Health England said the pandemic had contributed to life expectancy in England falling to its lowest level in almost a decade. What is the new life expectancy of women? a) 79.7 years b) 80.5 years c) 81.8 years d) 82.7 years
12. After a vote by doctors and medical students, the British Medical Association moved from a position of opposition to one of neutrality on what?
13. After a crash in the Italian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton said: 'I feel very fortunate today. Thank God for the ___ which saved me and saved my neck’. What is the missing word?
14. The High Court ruled that the content of the Duke of Edinburgh’s will would be kept secret for how many years to protect the Queen’s dignity?
15. Virginia Giuffre’s legal team accused Prince Andrew of dodging legal papers and likened his behaviour to a game of what 'behind palace walls’?
16. Sir Clive Sinclair, who died aged 81, invented the ZX ___ computer which brought affordable personal computing to the masses and sold in its millions. What was the computer’s name?
17. On which islands were nearly 1,500 dolphins killed, the largest number ever in a single hunt, according to the Sea Shepherd conservationists?
18. Which surprise guest serenaded the relatives of those killed in the 9/11 terror attacks with an acoustic rendition of 'I’ll See You In My Dreams' as they gathered at the World Trade Center site on Saturday?
19. What is the name of the Chelsea footballer whose medals were stolen from his home while he was playing in the Champions League on Tuesday night?
20. Rupert Murdoch’s News UK announced plans to launch a national television station in Britain which will see the return of Piers Morgan. What is it called?
21. What three words were on the back of congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s dress when she attended the Met Gala in New York on Monday?
22. Police in West Yorkshire and elsewhere asked shopkeepers to stop selling which foodstuff to children after a new TikTok craze?
23. Who left the BBC after 20 years saying: ‘Another winter of the dark mornings was not what I wanted to do anymore’?

24. Whose farewell tour of the UK and Europe was put back a year after he was injured in a fall?

25. Comedian Sara Pascoe is to take over from Joe Lycett as host of which television programme?

Answers here

Trainee Clara wins the newsquiz

Ten trainees from the Daily Mail, two from the Mail on Sunday and two from the Evening Standard started their course in Kensington this week. They had sessions with Mail news-editor Sam Marsden, associate editor Stephen Wright, chief reporter Sam Greenhill and MailOnline travel editor Ted Thornhill. The trainee subs were shown the ropes by assistant chief sub David Feldstein. There were also meetings with the managing editors of both titles. The trainees analysed the news, wrote stories and headlines and learnt about the papers’ style. The winner of the best intro of the week was MoS trainee Natasha Livingstone. As usual we finished with the newsquiz. This week’s winner with 17.5 was Clara Gasper, just ahead of Niamh Lynch and John Abiona on 17.
The top scorers in last week’s quiz were Toby Brown and Marguerite Turner with 21, just ahead of Robert Rea and Gavin Devine on 18, Joe Curtis 17 and Ed Mortimer and Stuart Bagnall 16. 
Simon, Sue and Will Cole were the top team with 22. Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe scored 20, Maura and Phil Parsons 19, Three Legs drinkers Bryan, Heather, Peter and Stacey and Team Swindle scored 18. Here is this week's quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week's events. Give it a go and see if you can beat Clara's score.

Today's front pages

1. Social reforms, including a rise in National Insurance, were passed by the Commons with 248 MPs, including five Tories, voting against and how many voting for?
2. National Insurance is to go up from 12 per cent to what, starting in April 2022, to fund health and social care?
3. What was the name of Prince Charles’s aide who stepped down from his role as chief executive of The Prince's Foundation following claims that he helped a wealthy Saudi businessman secure an honour?
4. The NHS is hiring dozens of new executives with the top jobs carrying salaries of 80 per cent more than what the Prime Minister earns? What was the top advertised salary?
5. French interior minister Gerald Darmanin vowed to block the UK's plan to withhold cash over Channel crossings by migrants by saying: 'France will accept no practices contrary to the Law of the Sea, and no financial ___.’ What is the missing word?
6. Which company announced it wanted 29 per cent of its partners and directors to have a 'working class’ background by 2030?
7. The uplift to universal credit and tax credits of how much per week, which was introduced in April 2020 at the start of the pandemic, is due to be withdrawn in October?
8. People in Scotland will need proof they have been fully vaccinated before they can enter nightclubs and other large venues from what date?
9. Britain’s Emma Raducanu, 18, will be the first qualifier to reach a Grand Slam final tomorrow (Saturday). How many sets did she drop on her way to the US Open final?
10. What is the name of the leading scientist behind the Oxford vaccine for Covid-19 who said she does not support a widespread booster jab campaign in the UK as immunity is 'lasting well’?
11. The Taliban declared total victory in Afghanistan and released a video of their flag above the governor’s house after the fall of the last resistance in which province?
12. What appeared on Big Ben’s restored clock face for the first time in 90 years?
13. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson admitted confusing footballer Marcus Rashford with which other sportsman?

14. Team GB won 41 golds at the Paralympics but what position did they finish in the overall medals table?
15. A female deputy head teacher at a primary school in which English town was charged with facilitating the rape of a girl aged under 13?
16. No 10 Downing Street condemned the 'absurd airbrushing' of whose full name from the charity set up in his memory and urged its bosses to reverse the decision?
17. Baroness Lawrence, Paul Gambaccini, Harvey Proctor and Lady Brittan were among the signatories of a letter to Boris Johnson calling for whose resignation?
18. A football match between which two countries was called off after health authority officials went on to the pitch over an alleged coronavirus breach by England-based players? Half a point for each team.
19. England's fifth Test due to start today (Friday) at which ground was cancelled after staff tested positive for Covid-19?
20. Whose autobiography, Hear Me Out, which detailed 'my story, my words, my life’, candidly discussed her cancer battle?
21. Adverts featuring which comedian were axed by the Scottish Government because of her offensive tweets about black people?
22. TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson held a meeting with Oxfordshire villagers over concerns about the traffic created by his shop in the Clarkson's Farm TV show. What is the name of the shop?
23. Who escorted disabled schoolgirl Felicity Warburton, 16, to her prom in Worcester to show bullies that ‘they can’t hurt her anymore’?
24. Indie-soul singer Arlo Parks, 21, won the 2021 Mercury Prize for her debut album. What is it called?
25. The best serial drama performance award at the National Television Awards was won by actress Mollie Gallagher for her role as Nina Lucas in which TV series?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorers in last week’s newsquiz were Liz Gerard and Robert Rea both with 19.5. Janet Boyle scored 18.5, Stuart Bagnell 17, Jayme Bryla and Ed Mortimer 16.5 and Gavin Devine 15.5. Tony Smith scored 14 ... impressive given that he was in his Covid sickbed. On the mend now I trust. The top team was Maura and Phil Parsons with 20.5, ahead of the Roberts Family on 18.5, Team Swindle on 18 and Bruce and Sarah Hayward 16.5. Here is this week’s quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.

Today's front pages

1. Afghan refugees who fled the Taliban's takeover will be resettled in the UK under a scheme called 'Operation ___ ___’. What are the two missing words?
2. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee that there had been an order to destroy what at the British embassy in Kabul because he didn't want to hand the Taliban a 'propaganda coup’?
3. In which city did Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab hold talks with other political leaders and Government officials meet Taliban leaders to discuss evacuations from Kabul airport?
4. Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove was filmed busting dance moves at a nightclub in which city?
5. Police shot and killed a 'violent extremist' after he stabbed and wounded at least six people in a Countdown supermarket in which city?
6. Which company announced it was looking to hire 55,000 staff globally - with about 40,000 jobs in the US, 2,500 in the UK and the remainder mostly in India, Germany and Japan?
7. The spending limit on a contactless card is to rise to what amount from October 15?
8. Media regulator Ofcom rejected a record number of complaints about broadcaster Piers Morgan saying he didn't believe what the Duchess of Sussex said in her Oprah Winfrey interview? To the nearest thousand, how many complaints were there?
9. What was the name of the hurricane that caused chaos, including more than 40 deaths, in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia?
10. Who wrote on Instagram: 'This is absolutely 100 per cent the stuff that dreams are made of! I'm right here! I'm back where I belong! Let's make it happen once again’?
11. Which newspaper paid substantial damages and apologised to England cricketer Ben Stokes and his mother after it put details of a family tragedy on its front page?
12. The Prince’s Foundation said it was investigating allegations that individuals could pay £100,000 to do what?
13. Andy Murray said he 'lost respect' for Stefanos Tsitsipas during a US Open match where the Briton accused his opponent of 'cheating' by doing what?
14. Actor Ed Asner, who died aged 91, was best known in the UK for his role as the city editor of the fictional Los Angeles Tribune. What was his character’s name?
15. An appeal to the US supreme court failed to block the introduction of an extreme abortion law, which bans termination at around six weeks and offers no exceptions for rape or incest, in which state?

16. A 27-year-old man was arrested after a 31-year-old woman fell to her death from which Scottish landmark on Thursday night?
17. NHS England said Inclisiran, given as a twice-a-year injection, could soon be offered as a treatment for what and could save 30,000 lives in a decade?
18. There is now no country in the world that uses what, according to the UN, after supplies in Algeria finally ran out?

19. Gogglebox's Andrew Michael, who died aged 61, missed one series of the show in 2015 because he was standing as a candidate for which political party in that year’s General Election?
20. Team GB won their first-ever gold medal at which team sport with a Paralympic Games victory over the USA?
21. Dame Sarah Storey became the most successful British Paralympian of all time when she won the women’s cycling road race taking her tally to how many gold medals?
22. The Duke of Sussex made a surprise virtual appearance at the GQ Men of the Year awards where he presented a prize to the team behind what?
23. England players were racially abused as they continued their unbeaten World Cup qualifying campaign by beating Hungary in Budapest by what score?

24. Transport for London said it would remove advertising for which TV programme from the side of double-decker buses after concerns on social media that it could put passengers, including children, at the risk of sexual assault?
25. Abba announced that their first studio album for 40 years will be released in November followed by concerts where virtual avatars will play their hits? What is the name of the album?

Answers here