An innovative project aimed at producing grass roots school newspapers, and run in conjunction with the University of Lincoln, is continuing to go from strength to strength thanks to Mortons.
The Lincoln School of Journalism School Newspaper Project completed 22 newspapers this year, printing more than 34,000 papers in the process. That brings the total since the scheme started in 2009 to over 80 individual titles and 190,000 copies.
The scheme offers primary and secondary schools the opportunity to make their own newspapers with the help of professional journalists, journalism lecturers and students. It gives the youngsters an experience of working in a busy newsroom, producing real journalism which is then professionally printed by the Mortons team.
University senior lecturer Tim Greenfield said: “A first this year was a partnership between Waltham Parish Council and Waltham Leas Primary Academy, in which the school and council shared production of a 24 page paper, containing news from the school and village. More than 5000 copies of this have been distributed around the village.
“We have also produced more than one edition of their paper with some schools, and worked with a few partnerships of primary schools on a paper combining all their work.”
The website www.theschoolnewspaper.co.uk has been running for six months and has had several hundreds hits, while the project already has bookings for next year and aims to spread its coverage into new schools where possible.
“All of this would not be possible without the support of Mortons,” said Mr Greenfield, “and i’d like to thank the team for supporting this worthwhile project.”