Fantastic opening for school-leavers at the i

If you are a school-leaver who is looking for a career in journalism then you need to take a look at The i Paper's Talent Scheme.
The paper is looking for two apprentices to take a diploma in journalism and gain experience in its newsroom in London.
This two-year programme, aimed at school and college leavers who would otherwise face barriers to a career in journalism, offers on-the-job training and a nationally recognised journalism qualification in partnership with the PA Media Academy.
After taking the PA course, the successful applicants will have a week’s training with me before joining the newsroom. 

The i Newspaper's 2025 apprentices Anjola Fashawe and Matthew Bailey

It is the third year the apprenticeship has run. One of the 2025 intake, Matthew Bailey, said: 'The apprenticeship has given me the skills and confidence to produce pieces of journalism that I am truly proud of, and that I never thought I would be writing so early in my career. The experience I have gained through my time on the different desks has been invaluable and this, alongside completing my journalism diploma, has supercharged my abilities as a journalist.’
Editor-in-chief, Oliver Duff, said: 'If you think you have what it takes, our apprentice scheme offers a proven pathway into journalism. We welcome applicants from all walks of life who share a passion for great storytelling – and who are motivated to succeed.’
If you are interested you can apply here. You will need to upload your CV, a cover letter and a 300-word article about stories or issues that you believe should be better highlighted in the media. You can also add a video in support of your application.
Candidates must have A-levels and/or a BTEC Level 3. Applications close on Monday December 20 and the scheme starts on February 15. Interviews will be held in early January. Please direct any questions to apprentices@theipaper.com.

More details are here.

Trainee Miranda wins the newsquiz

The Daily Mail trainee sub-editors had a lively third week in Kensington. They did features editing with Fiona Webster and backbenchers Richard Hall, David Feldstein and Angus Morrison gave tips about life on the subs desk. Consultant Clara Pappalettera covered well-being and safety. On Wednesday they had a legal day with global head of compliance Paul Hutchinson and the Mail’s legal team. The trainees also covered a breaking news story, created banners, wrote personality profiles and did subbing exercises with senior subs Katie Jenkins and Tom Belcher. As always, we finished the week with the newsquiz. This week’s winner, with a score of 19, was Miranda Crawford, just ahead of Emma Gatrell on 18 and Alfie Sansom on 17. Miranda collected a scratchcard.
The top solo scorers in last week’s newsquiz were George Mann and Janet Boyle both on 22, ahead of Emma Gatrell on 21.5, Miranda Crawford on 18.5, Robert Rea on 18 and Alfie Sansom on 16.5. The top teams were Maura and Phil Parsons and the Broad Oak Boozers including Danny, Craig, Tim and George who both scored 23. The Barnard Castle FOC including Bill, Sue, Trevor, Carole, Our Peter, Jackie, Pauline and Mike scored 19 and Oli, Vic, George and Rex and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe both scored 18. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week’s news. Give it a go and see if you can beat Miranda’s score. 

Today's front pages

1. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that when he entered No 10 he was told that Moscow had interfered in what?
2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on a visit to the UK, said he felt betrayed by the US for speed restrictions imposed on what service, warning that people would be killed as a result?
3. Sir Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, said in his annual speech that 'in 2026, MI5 is devoting more resource to countering state threats than during the __ __’. What are the two missing words?
4. Chancellor John Healey was reported to be planning to increase taxes on which sector in his Budget later this month?
5. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said that Chancellor John Healey faced having to find how many billions of pounds to avoid cuts to public spending while meeting defence promises in the Budget?
6. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said if his party won the election it would immediately deport how many asylum seekers and impose a five-year ban on people being granted asylum?
7. Russell Brand is appearing at Southwark Crown Court facing three charges of sexual assault, one of indecent assault and how many of rape?
8. The prosecution set out its case against Russell Brand at Southwark Crown Court. Which of these words did they not use to describe him? a) Ruthless b) Calculated c) Manipulative d) Cunning.
9. William Chapman, 24, was killed by a tiger at a wildlife park near which English town?
10. What did hackers target in hundreds of French supermarkets, causing tens of millions of euros in losses?
11. Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson was jailed for how many years for a series of child sex offences, including one count of rape?
12. US President Donald Trump said it was time for which country to get a new leader?
13. In an exchange at Lewes Crown Court who angrily told the defence lawyer: 'I won't have anyone calling me a liar’?
14. A bystander killed a 16-year-old gunman who shot dead three children aged 5, 8 and 11 at an elementary school in which US state?
15. Which author, whose bestselling novels include Normal People and Conversations With Friends, has had her books withdrawn from sale in the UK because of her support for Palestine Action?
16. Pope Leo XIV underwent a 90-minute surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital after cancer was discovered in which part of his body?

17. Former gang boss Duane 'Keffe D’ Davis, 62, was jailed for 40 years for orchestrating whose murder?
18. Cyclist Matt Richardson was withdrawn from the Great Britain team for next week’s track world championships in which country after allegations of serious misconduct?
19. Actor RJ Mitte, who died aged 34, was best known for his role as the son of drug kingpin Walter White in which TV drama series?

20. What is the name of Tom Cruise's latest film which is expected to lose around $245millon (£185million), after its continuing poor performance at the box office?
21. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their first joint appearance since their return to the UK with three separate engagements in which city yesterday (Thursday)? 
22. Archaeologists discovered the world's oldest shipwreck, dated between 4,400 and 4,700 years old, off the coast of which country?
23. Manchester City supporters appeared in the Liverpool away end waving hundreds of what?
24. Delta Goodrem was forced to skip this week's Strictly Come Dancing after breaking what?
25. Which faithful was murdered face-to-face in Celebrity Traitors?

Answers here

Trainee Emma wins the newsquiz again

The Daily Mail trainee subs had a lively second week in Kensington. They drafted a page lead for the paper, edited a spread, submitted personality profiles, wrote animal picture captions and pitched stories to chief reporter Sam Greenhill. They had sessions with night editor Andy Gregory and joint heads of digital production Mike Hearn and Dan Bourke and senior sub-editor Kat Derbyshire. Katie Jenkins, Aimee Miller and Kristina Wemyss, all former trainees who now hold senior positions, talked about their journey. Features sub Tina Moran also set tasks and gave the trainees feedback. Trainees Miranda Crawford and Alfie Sansom won scratchcards for the best picture headlines. We finished the week as always with the newsquiz. The top scorer, for the second week, was Emma Gatrell with 21.5, ahead of Miranda on 18.5 and Alfie on 16.5. Emma also won a scratchcard. The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was George Mann on 23, ahead of Janet Boyle on 22, Robert Rea and Emma Gatrell on 19. The top team was the Broad Oak Boozers of Tim, Thom, Danny, Craig and George with 21. Oli, Vic, George and Rex; Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe and Alex and Leigh all scored 20. Here is this week’s quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week’s news. Why not give it a go and see if you can beat Emma’s score. 

Today's front pages

1. Sagal Abdi-Wali, who won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election for Labour, was a child refugee from which country?
2. In which city was the Conservative Party conference held?
3. Who made an appearance on stage at the Conservative Party conference and asked: ‘Why would anybody set up a business in this country right now'?
4. Despite newspaper headlines, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said she had not proposed building an iron dome but a __ Shield. What is the missing word?
5. In her conference speech, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said that the next Conservative government would legislate so nobody would ever do what?
6. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said that, if nobody won the next General Election, she would rather have another election than do what?
7. The High Court said that warrants used by Thames Valley Police to search whose homes were unlawful?
8. Which clothing company said it was investigating 'unauthorised activity' after customers received a hacking message on the app?
9. Which company announced that 2,500 employees could lose their jobs under an 'organisational review’ next year?
10. Wittington Investments Ltd, a company in which country, agreed to buy the 1,800 Boots stores across the UK and Ireland for £6.7billion?
11. It was revealed that Sainsbury’s had held talks with which other retailer to propose a potential multibillion-pound merger?
12. Twelve people were arrested during an anti-migrant protest that gathered near Haslar Marina in which town after reports that a boat carrying 149 people was due to arrive?
13. US Vice President JD Vance said that what were being removed from the UK out of an 'abundance of caution’?
14. Junior Royal Navy sailor Teddy Young appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court accused of what?
15. Two people from which country were arrested after breaching the perimeter fence near RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire?
16. Who was banned from entering Israel after his party's members adopted a motion declaring Zionism a form of racism?
17. Author and politician Jeffrey Archer died aged 86 on Monday, the day before his final novel was published. What is it called?
18. Which entertainer announced on social media that his 52-year-old wife had died, saying: 'My gorgeous bride of twenty years has gone to the Lord in Heaven’?
19. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, who killed 13 people in Texas, would be what?
20. According to organisers, tickets for Glastonbury Festival 2027 sold out in how many minutes?
21. England captain Harry Kane scored twice against the Czech Republic on his 125th game, meaning he is level with who at the top of the Three Lions' all-time appearance list?
22. What are the names of the Match of The Day presenters whose romance made the headlines this week? Half a point for each name.
23. Former England rugby league captain Kevin Sinfield said his late friend Rob Burrow would be ‘laughing' but 'enormously proud’ at what?
24. The Bank of England revealed that four creatures will feature on UK banknotes. Which of these is not included? a) the Atlantic puffin b) the buff-tailed bumblebee c) the red fox d) the European hedgehog e) the barn owl
25. Who was banished by the Round Table on Celebrity Traitors after she was spotted winking at traitor Richard E Grant?

Answers here

Trainee Emma wins the newsquiz

I spent this week with four Daily Mail trainee subs in Kensington. They edited stories, wrote intros and headlines, took articles from the Press Association’s wire and turned them into Mail stories and met the backbench in the newsroom. They had a welcome session with managing editor and editorial director Alex Bannister. Last year’s former trainees talked about their journey - and what to expect - and former trainee sub turned travel writer Erin Waks gave an insight into life in the newsroom. Ellen Morris and Alfie Sansom won scratchcards for the best intros of the week and Miranda Crawford for the best headline. We finished, as always, with the newsquiz - 25 questions about the week’s events. The top scorer was Emma Gatrell with 19 who also won a scratchcard. Well done, Emma. The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was George Mann on 23, ahead of Robert Rea on 18. The top team was Oli, Vic, George and Rex with 22.5, just ahead of Adam Batstone and the Mountain Men on 22 and the Barnard Castle FOC of Bill, Carole, Trevor, Jackie and Our Peter on 19.5. Nick Turner, Dave Robert, Lydia Turner and Georgina Harland; the King’s Head drinkers of Peter, Stacey and Kevin; Alex and Leigh and the Dubrovnik duo of Thom and Rosie all scored 18 and Phil and Maura Parsons scored 17. Here is this week’s newsquiz. Why not give it a go and see if you can beat Emma’s score. 

Today's front pages

1. Which city was the Labour Party conference held in?
2. The Government said the triple lock would become a double lock from 2030, meaning state pensions would increase annually by either by 2.5 per cent or by the rate of inflation - but no longer by what?
3. The longest ovation during Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s party conference speech was when he pledged to use this job to build the kind of Britain that who wanted to see?
4. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that, although it 'wouldn't be the right thing to do right now’, it was ‘possible' a future Labour election manifesto could promise what?
5. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband was representing the UK at an emergency G7 video conference today (Friday) to discuss what, following US President Donald Trump's threat of a temporary export ban?
6. According to the latest forecast, household energy prices are set to soar in January, with a typical bill projected to jump to how much a year?
7. To the nearest hundred, how many prisoners were released early yesterday (Thursday), the first of 4,500, under new rules introduced to prevent overcrowding?
8. What is the name of the Gloucestershire airbase used by the US military where five men were held for questioning by counter-terror officers?
9. An independent Premier League commission found Manchester City guilty of how many of the 115 financial charges they faced?
10. A pilot flying from where to Israel attacked another pilot before being overpowered by passengers in what is feared to have been an attempted hijacking.
11. An Orange Order parade was blocked by nationalist protesters following a Court of Appeal ruling that permitted the march to pass through which Catholic road for the first time in 28 years?
12. Three teenagers, two boys and a girl, died when the car they were in ended up in which English river?
13. At least 27 people were shot dead in two mass shootings within hours of each other in which country?
14. Six people, including a Briton and four Americans, were killed in an explosion that destroyed a holiday rental property in which European city?
15. More than 2,000 people were arrested and at least 65 teaching staff injured in violent student protests in which country?
16. Dame Esther Rantzen, who died aged 86, hosted BBC consumer affairs show That's Life! for 21 years which led to her setting up which charity in 1986, to provide counselling services for young people?
17. Death row inmate Christa Pike was taken to hospital after an attempt to execute her by two lethal injections failed in which US state?
18. King Charles was reportedly blocked as he tried to check on the well-being of which long-time friend?
19. Who did the Duke and Duchess of Sussex describe as ‘extraordinarily reckless’?
20. Which company’s logo was given its biggest makeover in 30 years with its older woman, stirring a bowl of batter, replaced by a younger model?
21. Why did goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu refuse to play for the Republic of Ireland in their Nations League game on Sunday?
22. How was it decided whether the elite female and male races would take place on the Saturday or Sunday in next year's two-day London Marathon?
23. The Welsh football team ended a six-game winless run by coming from behind to beat which country in the Nations League?
24. Who controversially told other contestants that they were a Traitor in the first episode of the new series?
25. Who won artist of the year, best dance and best collaboration at the MTV Video Music Awards?

Answers here