From Year 7 to the corridors of power: Oliver’s five-year journalism journey
By Jill Dando News
He joined the newsroom aged 11 – now Oliver leaves school after five remarkable years
Teenager Oliver Massey has gone from trainee reporter to Head Boy, interviewing senior politicians, reporting from Parliament and representing his school at national events.
Oliver joined the Good News Room at Worle School, Somerset, as an 11-year-old Year 7 pupil.
Five years later, he leaves school having built an impressive portfolio as a young journalist.
The 16-year-old is now beginning his next chapter at Weston College, where he is studying A Levels, after a journey that has taken him from his school newsroom to Parliament and national events.
During his five years as a Jill Dando News reporter, Oliver has interviewed the Speaker of the House of Commons on three occasions, spoken at the UK Youth Parliament, reported from Parliament and worked alongside Weston-super-Mare Town Council and local politicians.
At just 14, he secured work experience with an internationally acclaimed newspaper. During his placement in London, he joined a journalist covering an interview with Nigel Farage.
Oliver is also a MYP member of the UKYP (Member of the Youth Parliament), and represents 40,000 young people across North Somerset in the houses of Parliament.
His reporting has also seen him interview MPs, councillors, community leaders and other national figures for stories published by the Good News Post.
Oliver is one of hundreds of children aged 4 to 21 who have been reporters in the Good News Post project.
The project runs Good News Rooms in schools, training them in positive and responsible journalism.
The project is inspired by the kindness, humility and journalistic excellence associated with former BBC journalist Jill Dando, who also attended Worle School.
Mark Tidman, Headteacher of Worle School, said:
“Oliver has been a tremendous ambassador for Worle School, both as one of our Head Boys and as one of our longest-serving Jill Dando News reporters.
“We’ve watched him grow from a quiet Year 7 pupil into a confident young journalist who has interviewed senior politicians, spoken at national events and represented both our school and Jill Dando’s legacy with professionalism, kindness and maturity.”
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons and patron of Jill Dando News, said:
“Jill Dando was a humble, kind, and brilliant journalist, who was described as ‘the smiling face of Britain’ - and Oliver has taken that positivity as an inspiration to become a reporter, just like her.
“As someone who has been interviewed by Oliver several times in Parliament, I can testify that he is not only a kindly inquisitor, but his interest in Parliament and politics could one day see him working in our House of Commons Press Gallery.
“He is certainly one to watch as a future journalism star, just like Jill.”
The Editor
The Good News Rooms give children and young people the opportunity to become real life positive reporters, giving them confidence, work-place skills, aspiration and public speaking skills.
Young reporters have interviewed the Prime Minister inside 10 Downing Street and met the Speaker of the House of Commons in Parliament.
The initiative was launched at Worle School in 2016 which is an aspirational and caring community school with a fantastic culture and alumni.
The Good News Post programme has since expanded across Somerset, nationally and internationally in Malawi, Africa.
