Daily Mail looking for trainee journalists

The Daily Mail is looking for the next wave of trainee journalists. Details of the course for reporters and sub-editors who will start in August and September have been posted on Hold The Front Page, Journo Resources and LinkedIn today. Here is a link. The scheme is in its 23rd year, having started in 2003. It was initially for sub-editors only and run by the Press Association at its Manor House in Howden. In 2008  the scheme was rolled out for print reporters and Sue Ryan, a former managing editor at the Daily Telegraph, was brought in to recruit and manage it. It then came in-house and was run at Northcliffe House. The MailOnline scheme began in London in 2013 and was launched in New York and Sydney two years later. There have been 70 courses since it began. Nine courses have been run for New York trainees, two of which were held in London, four were held in Sydney and 57 in London. Some graduates have inevitably moved on and are editors, broadcasters and well-known writers for other outlets. But many of those who started on the scheme hold senior positions at the Mail. In London these include the UK editor (digital), the global editorial director, the Mail+ editor, head of sport, digital head of sport, head of newsletters, associate chief sub, Whitehall editor, head of travel and property, executive science editor, political correspondent, the recently appointed influencer correspondent and many others subs and reporters. In New York office, the executive editor, Mail+ editor, deputy head of news, lifestyle editor, assistant sports editors and many others are former trainees. The 16 youngsters who were recruited last year mean that there have now been 548 trainees who have passed through the scheme. I have delivered the training since it began and enjoyed every minute, meeting amazing people and watching brilliant careers grow. The Mail’s management, editors, journalists, admin staff and IT team have been a huge support along the way. A big thanks to them all … there are too many to mention but they know who they are. This year's reporting course starts on August 24 for three weeks and the subbing course on September 28 for four weeks, as it covers layout, design and training in InDesign and Photoshop. Get your application in and I might see you later in the year. 

It's time for the newsquiz ...

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was George Mann on 21, ahead of Robert Rea and Marion Fountayne on 20. The top team was the King’s Head drinkers of Peter, Stacey and Danny with 21, ahead of the Barnard Castle FOC with Peter, Jackie, Trev, Carole, Bill and Ron on 19. The Kaprun skiers of Thom, Rosie, Jack and Tim scored 18 and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe with Spanish holiday pals David and Dawn scored 15. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Why not give it a go and let me know your score.

Today's front pages

1. What is the name of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff who quit over his role in Lord Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the US?
2. Tim Allan left as Downing Street’s director of what after five months, ‘to allow a new No 10 team to be built’?
3. Anas Sarwar became the most senior Labour Party figure to call for Keir Starmer to quit as Prime Minister, saying there had been 'too many mistakes’. What is Sarwar’s position?
4. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would 'never walk away from the __ that I love' after brushing off speculation about his leadership? What is the missing word?
5. Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said he was sorry that his 'choice of language had offended some people’ after saying the UK was being what?
6. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said the aim of long-awaited government guidance on what was meant to provide pragmatic advice and not make the issue a 'political football’?
7. New Government proposals urged what to be banned in cars carrying children?

8. What did US President Donald Trump describe as 'an affront to the Greatness of America’?
9. US President Donald Trump announced ‘the largest deregulation in American history’ by reversing an Obama-era scientific ruling that claimed what was a danger to public health?
10. According to the latest release from the Epstein files, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was accused of sharing confidential information with the sex offender while holding what role in 2010 and 2011?
11. Which group won a legal challenge in the High Court against the ruling to proscribe it under anti-terrorism laws?
12. How old was the boy charged with two counts of attempted murder, following stabbings at Kingsbury High School in Brent?
13. Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, was named as the suspect in an attack that killed eight people and injured dozens more in which country’s worst mass shooting for decades?
14. Former nursery worker Vincent Chan was jailed for how many years after pleading guilty to 56 sexual offices including filming himself abusing children in his care?
15. Stocks jumped to a record high following a landslide election victory by the first woman prime minister of which country?
16. Actor James Van Der Beek, who died aged 48, was best known for his starring role in which US teen drama?

17. The vegan drink brand Oatly lost a Supreme Court case and can no longer use what word to describe its drinks?
18. People who have a couple of teas or coffees a day have a lower risk of what, according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association?
19. In which UK city was the sun seen for the first time in 21 days yesterday (Thursday) - ending the longest sunless period since Met Office records began?
20. Why was Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych banned from competing at the Winter Olympics?
21. What is the name of the American skier who had surgery on a broken leg after a crash at the Winter Olympics on Sunday?
22. After winning a bronze medal, Norwegian Olympian Sturla Holm Laegreid confessed in a live television interview to what?
23. Two Premier League managers were sacked on Wednesday by which clubs? Half a point for each.
24. Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with West Ham meant supporter Frank Ilett’s 500-day wait for what will have to continue?
25. After quitting Strictly Come Dancing Claudia Winkleman is to join the Channel 4 presenting team for which four-day event in March?

Answers here

Have a crack at the newsquiz

The top solos scorers in last week’s newsquiz were Tim Humphrey, George Mann and Tim (still totally unremarkable) with 23. Janet Boyle scored 22 and Robert Rea 20. The top team was the FOC of Bill, Our Peter, Jackie, Trev, Carole and Steve with 21. Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe scored 19 and the Broad Oak Boozers on tour, Danny, Thom, Rosie, Anna and Dale, scored 18. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Why not give it a go and let me know your score.

Today's front pages

1. Apologising for appointing Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US, Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged Mandelson knew sex offender Jeffrey Epstein but added: ‘None of us knew the depth and the __ of that relationship.’ What is the missing word.
2. An email believed to be sent by then Cabinet minister Peter Mandelson to child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2010 said: 'Finally got him to go today …’ Who was it referring to?

3. An email thread from 2010 showed Jeffrey Epstein offering to introduce the then Prince Andrew to a 26-year-old woman who was 'clevere [sic] beautiful, trustworthy’ and from which country?
4. After the latest Epstein revelations, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was seen doing what near Royal Lodge on Monday before moving out?
5. What announced that it was closing 'for the foreseeable future' after revelations emerged about Sarah Ferguson’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein?

6. Prince Edward said it was 'really important' to remember the victims after being asked about the fallout from the Epstein files while giving a speech at the World Governments Summit in which city?

7. What is the name of the Grammys host who was threatened with legal action by Donald Trump for making a joke about the president’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein?
8. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced she had ended 'the wasteful use’ of what by asylum seekers?
9. MPs were told that restoring what crumbling building could cost more than £39billion and take between 38 and 61 years?
10. Serial killer Steven Wright, who was charged with murdering a 17-year-old girl more than 25 years ago, is serving a life sentence for killing five women in and around which town?
11. An inquiry found that the deaths of how many people, who drowned while attempting to cross the English Channel in 2021, could have been avoided?
12. Which country announced plans to ban social media for children under 16, with its prime minister saying: 'We will protect them from the digital Wild West’?
13. The deaths of four British tourists, within months of contracting stomach bugs, raised questions about the safety of visiting which island?
14. American broadcast journalist Savannah Guthrie, the co-anchor of NBC News, published a video statement calling for what?
15. William Stevenson, the former husband of which prominent American, was charged with murdering his wife in Delaware?
16. A Russian ship's captain was jailed for how many years after crashing into a US tanker in the North Sea, killing one crew member?
17. The French offices of which company were raided by the cyber-crime unit, as part of an investigation into unlawful data extraction and complicity in the possession of child pornography?
18. What is the name of the former UK snooker champion and BBC commentator who died aged 79?
19. US heavyweight boxer Jarrell Miller won his fight at Madison Square Garden in New York but lost what?
20. Ninety-one-year-old Peter Quinney from Wiltshire won two gold medals at a competition for the over-40s in what sport?
21. Tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, 22, won the Australian Open final to become the youngest man to complete what?
22. The 25th Winter Olympics kicked off this week, with almost 3,000 athletes from 90 countries, and an opening ceremony in which city?
23. After this week’s semi-finals which two teams will meet in the Carabao Cup Final in March? Half a point for each.
24. Who announced on Loose Women that she had married for the fifth time … at the age of 79?
25. Which British singer won the Grammy Award for best new artist?

Answers here

Have a crack at the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Tim (still totally unremarkable) with 23, ahead of  George Mann on 22, William at The Spectator 21, Janet Boyle 20, Robert Rea 19 and Jayme Bryla 18. The top team, with a maximum score of 25, was Tim Humphrey and the Global's Newsroom. The King’s Head drinkers, including Peter, Stacey. Kevin, Mand, Les and Nicky scored 21 as did the Harrow Hopefuls with Thom, Rosie, Tim, Craig, Danny and George. The Castle Players, including Our Peter and Jackie, scored 19, as did Bill and Coo with a bit of help from barman Cam. Trevor and Carole and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe both scored 16. Here is this week's newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Why not give it a go and let me know your score.  

Today's front pages

1. How many of the ten people on Labour’s National Executive Committee voted to block Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing in the forthcoming parliamentary by-election?
2. Labour's National Executive Committee said the block on Andy Burnham running as the Labour candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election would 'avoid an unnecessary' what?
3. Suella Braverman defected to Reform UK, meaning how many sitting Conservative MPs have join Nigel Farage’s party this month (January)?
4. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch apologised for a party statement which said ‘we did all we could to look after Suella's __ __ but she was clearly very unhappy’. What are the two missing words?
5. Prime Minister Keir Starmer met President Xi Jinping in Beijing, becoming the first British leader since who to visit the China?

6. After Keir Starmer met President Xi Jinping, China agreed to allow British citizens to travel to the country for up to how many days without a visa?

7. Work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden announced that, after reviewing the evidence, who would not be receiving a payout?
8. What was the name of the storm that left swathes of south-west England flooded and cut off?
9. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said police in England and Wales will be given targets to respond to emergencies within 15 minutes in urban areas and how many minutes in rural areas?
10. The Government said that ground rents paid by leaseholders are to be capped at how much a year in England and Wales?
11. A review found that nearly 100 children were harmed by limb reconstruction surgeon Yaser Jabbar, who worked at which hospital?
12. What was the name of the 37-year-old ICU nurse who was shot dead by ICE agents in Minneapolis?
13. Who released a protest song called Streets of Minneapolis and posted a message saying: 'I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city’?
14. What did Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu call 'an extraordinary achievement’ paving the way for the next phase of Donald Trump's peace plan?
15. US President Donald Trump said there was 'another beautiful armada floating beautifully towards’ which country?
16. Which bank announced plans to close 44 bank branches, putting almost 300 jobs at risk?
17. A coroner at a North Yorkshire inquest said that doing what had ‘likely' contributed to the death of former Scotland footballer Gordon McQueen?
18. Who fought back tears live on TV as she revealed she was leaving the BBC after more than 25 years?
19. Who was announced as a judge on the Great British Bake Off replacing Prue Leith?

20. American rock climber Alex Honnold was broadcast live on Netflix climbing a 101-storey tower without ropes in which country?
21. Harry Styles added two dates to his Together Together tour setting him up for a 12-night run at Wembley Stadium, breaking the previous record of which band?

22. Which sportswoman split with her coach and is now looking for the tenth of her career?

23. Which political thriller, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, leads the field at this year's Bafta Film Awards with a record 14 nominations?
24. King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the launch of a film about the King's own philosophy called Finding __. What is the missing word?
25. What did director of communications Rachel Duffy and cyber security consultant Stephen Libby win?

Answers here

Have a crack at the newsquiz

The top solo scorers in last week’s newsquiz were George Mann and Tim (still totally unremarkable) with 23, ahead of Janet Boyle on 21, Lara at the Spectator on 19, Robert Rea on 18 and Ian McCulloch on 16. The top team was Tim Humphrey and son Robert with 21, just ahead of Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe on 20. Three teams, The Broad Oak Boozers including Danny, George, Craig, Tim, Anna and Dale and Our Peter and Jackie and Trev and Carole all scored 17. Bill and Sue in Florida got 16. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Why not give it a go and let me know your score. 

Today's front pages

1. In a post on social media, US President Donald Trump called what move by the UK an 'act of great stupidity’?
2. US President Donald Trump, when pressed by a reporter at a Washington news conference about how far he would go to take over Greenland, replied with what three words?’
3. US President Donald Trump said an understanding with Nato allies over Greenland had prompted him to halt 10 per cent tariffs against how many countries, including the UK?
4. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK would not yet be signing up to US President Donald Trump's organisation, which has what three-word name, over concerns about Russian leader Vladimir Putin's participation?
5. The White House denied that US President Donald Trump had confused Greenland with which country on several occasions during his Davos speech?
6. Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators were meeting in which city today (Friday) for the first trilateral talks since the war began?
7. Health and Social Care Minister Stephen Kinnock called it ‘disappointing', Labour MP Emily Thornberry said it was an 'absolute insult’ and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: 'How dare he question their sacrifice?’ What were they referring to?

8. Local Government Secretary Steve Reed said that how many English councils, planning elections for May, will now have these postponed until 2027?

9. What is being planned for Royal Mint Court opposite Tower Bridge in London?
10. Who apologised for 17 breaches of the MPs’ code of conduct after failing to declare £380,000 income on time?
11. What is the name of the former Labour minister who announced he was standing down as an MP, possibly paving the way for Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to run in a by-election? 
12. Former Tory MP Robert Jenrick was described as 'the new __in town' according to a leaked media plan for his defection to Reform UK. What is the missing word?
13. The Home Office announced that 27 single male migrants had been moved into a military training camp in which town, despite opposition from the council and residents?
14. Prince Harry is one of seven claimants, bringing a case at the High Court against the publishers of the Daily Mail. The other six are Sir Elton John and husband David Furnish, actresses Sadie Frost and Elizabeth Hurley, politician Sir Simon Hughes and who else?
15. Train drivers in which country called a three-day strike after four train crashes in five days, including one that killed 45 people?
16. Elon Musk floated the idea of buying which company after its CEO called him an idiot?
17. Mother-of-ten Amanda Wixon, 56, was found guilty at Gloucester Crown Court of having what for 25 years?

18. After the rollout of new CT scanners, passengers at Heathrow will now be able to leave containers containing how much liquid in their bags while going through security?

19. It was announced that a statue of Queen Elizabeth II, to be unveiled in St James’s Park, London, will now NOT feature her doing what, as had been previously illustrated?
20. Who posted on X: '1. Tripped on a small step. 2. In a London hotel restaurant. 3. Fractured femur. 4. So badly I needed a new hip. 5. Recovering in hospital. 6. Crutches for 6wks . 7. No long-haul for 12 wks. 8. New Year off to a cracking start! 9. I blame Donald Trump?'
21. What is the name of the fashion designer, responsible for the wedding dress worn by Nicola Peltz, Brooklyn Beckham’s bride, who died in Rome aged 93?
22. What was Brooklyn Beckham referring to when he said: 'I’ve never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life’?
23. What did Senegal's players do after Morocco were awarded a penalty in the 98th minute of the Africa Cup of Nations final?
24. Who quit her job as a TV judge after nine years, saying: 'There’s so much I’d like to do, not least spend summers enjoying my garden’?
25. Which movie broke the record for the most Oscar nominations, 16, received by a single film?

Answers here

Have a crack at the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Tim (still totally unremarkable) with 23, narrowly ahead of Janet Boyle on 22.5. George Mann scored 20 and Phil Lambell and Robert Rea both scored 19. The top team was Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe with 22, ahead of The Spectator team of John, Lara and William on 21, the Barnard Castle FOC of Trevor, Carole, Our Peter and Jackie on 20 and Danny and Thom at the snooker and Bill and Coo in Florida on 18. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Why not give it a go and let me know your score.

Robert Jenrick dominates today's front pages

1. Robert Jenrick was sacked from which shadow cabinet role?
2. In his speech at a Reform UK Press conference, criticising the Conservative Party, who did Robert Jenrick say 'created the migration system that enabled five million migrants to come here. The greatest failure of any British Government in the post-war period’?
3. Commenting on Robert Jenrick’s defection, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'I'm just glad that Nigel Farage is doing my __ __ for me.’ What are the two missing words? 
4. Which former Conservative Chancellor also defected to Reform UK?
5. Former Conservative minister Lord Offord was appointed to what role?
6. Downing Street announced it was backing down on its plan to introduce what, which had been announced by Prime Minister Kier Starmer in September?
7. The Government paid 'substantial' compensation to Palestinian Abu Zubaydah who has been detained where for almost 20 years?
8. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson warned that toddlers, who spend five hours a day looking at screens, had their ability to do what damaged?
9. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs she has no confidence in West Midlands Chief Constable Craig Guildford following a 'damning' report into what?
10. The Armed Forces Bill is to raise the maximum age at which veterans can be recalled from 55 to what age?
11. What reason did Lord Mandelson give for being 'kept separate' from the sexual side of Jeffrey Epstein’s life?
12. US President Donald Trump announced 'immediate' tariffs of what per cent on countries doing business with Iran?
13. Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said she had presented Donald Trump with what in 'recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom’?
14. An employment tribunal found that the nurses from Darlington suffered harassment when the NHS trust allowed what to happen, resulting in 'a hostile, intimidating, humiliating and degrading environment’?
15. A van driver was jailed for 13 years and six months for hitting and killing mother-of-three Suzanne Cherry, 63, while she was doing what in Staffordshire?
16. Three teenagers and a man in his 50s were killed in a head-on collision between a car and a taxi in which town?
17. Former Premier League footballer Shay Given apologised for describing sacked Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy's time as an 'absolute __’. What is the missing word?
18. Two women accused which singer of sexually assaulting them while they were working for him at his properties in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas?
19. Why did astronauts from the International Space Station return to Earth a month earlier than planned?
20. An American company is asking for a £750,000 deposit for a five-night stay in a hotel which it plans to open where in 2032?
21. Who announced he was to leave BBC Radio 4's Today programme, saying he intended to launch his own company?
22. Sasha Nash became the first woman to lead which team in its history?
23. Which non-league team were credited with pulling off FA Cup’s greatest shock by knocking out the trophy holders?
24. What sporting event will return to Britain next year, for the first time since 2014?
25. Adolescence star Owen Cooper became the youngest person to receive an award at the Golden Globes. How old is he?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was George Mann with 23, just ahead of Tim (still totally unremarkable) on 22, Janet Boyle and Ian McCulloch on 20, Robert Rea on 19 and Cepe Smith on 18. The top team was the Barnard Castle FOC with Bill, Sue, Trev, Carole, Our Peter, Jackie, Sam and Anna with 23, ahead of the Broad Oak Boozers of Craig, Danny, George, Thom and Tim on 18, Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe on 17.5 and Joe and Sarah on 16. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Why not give it a go and let me know your score. 

Today's front pages

1. What is the name of the Venezuelan president who was captured by the US on Saturday?
2. The government of which country said that 32 of its soldiers and intelligence staff were killed during the US operation to seize the Venezuelan leader?
3. The White House said that US President Donald Trump has been discussing 'a range of options' including use of the military, to acquire where as a 'national security priority’?
4. US President Donald Trump said that the president of which country was a 'sick man' who 'likes making cocaine’ and warned him to 'watch his ass.’
5. Protests erupted in America over the fatal shooting of mother-of-three Renee Good by an ICE agent in which city?
6. Government sources said Chancellor Rachel Reeves was finalising a support package for which industry that would include reductions to business rates?
7. The Met Office issued red, amber and yellow weather warnings as a storm with what name brought heavy snow and winds to the UK?
8. Tributes were paid to 67-year-old Mark Ratcliffe who drowned while trying to rescue a mother and daughter from the sea at which East Yorkshire coastal town?
9. Which company issued a global recall of baby formula products over concerns they contained a toxin which causes food poisoning?
10. An NHS online hospital service, to be launched in England next year, will focus on nine different conditions. Which of these is not included? a) inflammatory bowel disease b) cataracts c) prostate enlargement d) high blood pressure.
11. Under Government plans to reform driving laws in Britain, drivers over 70 would have to do what every three years?
12. Which singer shared that her eight-month-old twins had been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy and may never walk?
13. How many people were found guilty of cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron, the wife of the French President, by spreading false claims about her gender?
14. The chief executive of which food chain said there was 'no doubt’ that the wide-spread use of fat jabs and other appetite-suppressing medication was having an impact on its business?
15. The mayor of Swiss town Crans-Montana said Le Constellation bar, where more than 40 people died in a fire on New Year’s Eve, had not undergone safety checks for how many years?
16. Jonathan Carley, 65, was fined £500 after he admitted doing what at a Remembrance Sunday event in Llandudno?
17. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society warned people to limit the use of what to seven days or risk addiction?
18. Elon Musk's platform X limited the use of which tool after it came under fire for allowing people to make sexualised deepfakes?
19. Martin Chivers, who died aged 80, was the third top scorer of all-time for which football club?
20. Martin Clunes is to portray who in a controversial new two-part drama on Channel 5?
21. Why did presenter Gabby Logan leave Match of the Day mid-broadcast on Wednesday night?
22. Liam Rosenior was appointed head coach of Chelsea while Manchester United and Celtic appointed interim managers. Name them. Half a point each.
23. Where were John Sugden and Billy Mayhew killed?
24. How much did Luke Littler, 18, take home in prize money after winning the World Darts Championship for the second year running?
25. Fiona Hughes, a 62-year-old local government officer from Swansea, was revealed as what?

Answers here

30th anniversary of the Editorial Centre

Marine Court in Hastings, home of the Editorial Centre

It is 30 years ago today that my wife Pam and I set up the Editorial Centre in Hastings. This evening we will raise a glass to mark the anniversary of the day our lives changed forever. I had worked as a reporter for the Shields Weekly News in Tyneside, a sub at The Northern Echo, shifted at The Sun, chief-subbed the Evening Despatch in Darlington and ended up as editor of the Echo.
Pam worked for the Echo as a promotions executive. We enjoyed every minute but after 15 years on the nightshift, and as parents of three young children, we were looking for the next move - especially as our GP had us down as 'a one-parent family'. 

In 1993 the Echo’s parent company, Westminster Press, offered me a management role in the South, based at its training centre in Hastings. It was a tough decision but we left our native North-East and settled in a village near Rye in East Sussex. Two years later the parent company, Pearson, announced it was to sell Westminster Press.

The incoming company would have no need for a deputy editorial director and I was offered an MD’s job at one of the regional divisions. I was also offered night-editing positions on national papers. We faced a huge dilemma. Was I ready to be an MD or to go back on the night-shift? Would a four-hour daily commute be feasible or would we move our kids, who had settled nicely in the village school, to London? If we didn't choose one, what on earth were we going to do? East Sussex wasn’t really a thriving media centre.

As we were pondering our options, along came an amazing opportunity. Pearson announced that one of the casualties of the sale was to be the pioneering but unprofitable training centre - the brainchild of Nick Herbert and Bob James.

Pam and I offered to buy it and, to our astonishment, the company said Yes. It was on December 22, 1995, that we bought the training centre in Hastings and we reopened it as the Editorial Centre on Monday January 8, 1996.

An early Editorial Centre brochure

By the time we signed the deal we had contracts to guarantee our business would be profitable for the first two years. Those working at the centre - Robin Thompson, Steve Nelson, Frank le Duc, Steve Gladwyn, Sarah Jackson (nee Dixon), shorthand supremo Sylvia Bennett and Anne Scott included - all came with us and helped turn it into a success. The first course we ran in 1996 had 21 trainees on it. In 2016 some of them held a 20th anniversary dinner near King's Cross. Gareth Dant wrote a nice piece about it here. 

The Editorial Centre trained thousands of people, many now award-winning journalists and executives. They include editor-in-chief of the New York Post Keith Poole, BBC broadcaster and comedian Matt Chorley, author Sathnam Sanghera, Sam Coates and Ed Conway of Sky, Sam Greenhill chief reporter of the Daily Mail who was named Journalist of the Year in 2025, Andy Bounds of the FT and Matt Nixson of the Express - to name just a few. We trained in Ireland too and many of today’s senior journalists passed through the training organised by the Irish Examiner.
Thirty years ago we set off on adventure, a gamble, which turned out better than we could have ever imagined. It has seen us work for almost every national and regional newspaper. It has led to jobs in India, China, America, Australia, Malta, Gibraltar, the Channel Islands and Ireland and with companies from Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Hungary and Russia. We have redesigned more than 100 newspapers, produced live publications with our long-standing partner, designer Mike Brough, and met some amazing people. We will always be indebted to Shamus Donald, the human resources director of WP, who eased the deal through, negotiated an ongoing contract and made it as painless as possible. Without him, none of what happened later would have been possible.

Some of the Editorial Centre's services

The Editorial Centre thrived for nine years before we sold it to the Press Association in 2004. Thanks to Paul Potts, Tony Watson, Pat Pilton, Nick Teunon and Steven Brown for setting that sale in motion. We then helped PA absorb it into its own training company, buying the Trinity training centre in Newcastle and establishing centres in London and Howden in East Yorkshire. In 2007 I stood down as training director and we set up our new company, SMS. We still work for many media groups, including the Daily Mail whose schemes we run in London and New York, The i Paper and The Spectator.
When I was 22 I loved being a reporter on the Shields Weekly News. As I walked down to the river Tyne each day to pick up the fish prices to phone over to the Shields Gazette, I could never have imagined where the journey would take me. Now I see countless young journalists starting out on their journeys and watch their twists and turns with fascination. 

We owe a big thanks to the many people who have helped and guided us, called on our services or just had a pint with us along the way. Here’s to the next 30 years!