Jill Dando News
Meet the Young Reporters Bringing Back Good News
Jill Dando News is creating a new generation of young reporters — trained by top journalists and interviewing everyone from NASA astronauts, World Leaders, to Mr Speaker.
Jill Dando News is a fast-growing network of young positive reporters, aged 5 to 21, inspired by the much-loved BBC journalist Jill Dando.
Across the UK — and in Malawi — students are trained the Jill Dando way: to report with positivity, kindness, humility and a smile. Their training takes place in school and college Good News Rooms — real newsroom-style hubs where students work just like journalists on major news outlets.
Since 2011, Jill Dando News reporters have been coached by media professionals from Sky News, the BBC, CBS News America, ITV, and leading national newspapers including The Sunday Times.
These young reporters have interviewed countless high-profile figures — from a Prime Minister inside Downing Street, live in front of millions, to Mr Speaker (four times), Fiona Bruce, a NASA astronaut and many others. Interviews happen both on major national stages and inside their own Good News Rooms.
The organisation is supported by a growing group of patrons, including Jill’s brother Nigel Dando, Mr Speaker, the first Jill Dando News reporters Alex Crowther, now 25, and Olivia Finch, now 20, and the town mayors linked to the original Jill Dando Newsrooms, the Weston Mercury, and others.
The motto of Jill Dando News reporters is that ‘all things are possible’ and they have proved that already.
Endorsed by Sir Richard Branson, Sir Cliff Richard, Alan Titchmarsh, Fiona Bruce and two Prime Ministers, the feel-good project is lifting literacy, aspiration, digital skills — and the mental wellbeing — of its young reporters.
Jill Dando, remembered as the “smiling face of Britain” in the 1990s, continues to inspire a new generation. Her legacy lives on through this global movement, which has an ambitious goal: to train one million young people aged 5 to 21 in the style and memory of Jill Dando.
Together, these young reporters publish uplifting stories out of charities, communities, even their schools, on our international platform the Good News Post, launched in 2016.
“JILL DANDO WAS THE SMILING FACE OF BRITAIN. JILL DANDO NEWS WAS LIFE CHANGING FOR ME”
Olivia, the first Jill Dando News reporter, now studying Medicine at Bristol University
The Jill Dando News Network is an inspirational community of young reporters across the world.
Jill Dando and her inspirational story and character is inspiring thousands of young people worldwide aged 5 to 21 to find, and write and post positive ‘good news’ stories.
Jill was the smiling face of Britain in the 1999s - kind, humble, positive and brilliant.
Jill Dando was a brilliant TV journalist and the ‘face of Britain' after starting as a news reporter for her Worle School magazine Merlin aged 13 before she was tragically murdered in 1999.
Now children and young people are being trained to be reporters 'the Jill Dando way' in the Jill Dando Network.
Jill grew up in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset England and went to nearby Worle School in 1973 where she started her news reporting.
After leaving the school in 1978, she joined the Weston Mercury and rose the ranks to become the best TV reporter around. She was the friend of the stars.
But crucially, Jill retained her lovely personality, positive, kind, humble, generous and passionate about good news.
Over 100 reporters now are learning journalism the Jill Dando way in the Jill Dando News Network. (JDN News)
Olivia Finch, the first ever Jill Dando News student who started aged 12 at Worle School,, said: "Jill was the smiling face of Britain. News teams are having a brilliant time carrying on her legacy by writing inspirational stories on students and the community."
Priory School set up the first news centre in 2011 then Jill's old school in Worle a mile away created the Jill Dando News Centre in 2017, to get their news from Worle to the World. Now other schools across England and the world are doing the same.
It has taken them to Downing Street, Parliament and across the world. CBS News picked up one of their stories.
They interview other students, people in the community, and famous people such as Boris Johnson, Bear Grylls, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, James Cracknell, Jeffrey Archer and more.
Boris hails Jill Dando News Centre
“ I am bowled over by the professionalism of the Jill Dando News Centre.”
Boris Johnson, Prime Minister during a three hour visit.
In July 2019 Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited our Jill Dando News Centre at The King Alfred School Academy in Somerset.
The former journalist declared he was “bowled over by the professionalism of the Jill Dando News Centre”, and was interviewed by the reporters.
The Jill Dando Network has been visited by journalists from across the world.
Jill's brother Nigel helps with the training.
The JDN highlights Jill's life and legacy, while boosting positivity, kindness, good news and strong mental health and wellbeing.
