The Jill Dando News Network
Inspiring a New Generation of Young Reporters
The Jill Dando News Network is a expanding network of young reporters aged 4 to 21, inspired by the life, values and journalism style of beloved BBC presenter Jill Dando.
Based inside schools through dedicated Good News Rooms, students are trained to report on real-life stories with positivity, kindness, humility, aspiration and with a smile — the qualities Jill Dando was known for throughout her career.
The first Good News Room was created in 2011 by The Purple Sheep PR organisation run by an award-winning journalist at Priory School in Weston-super-Mare, Jill Dando’s home town.
In 2016, the Jill Dando News Network was officially launched at Jill’s former school, Worle School, following the opening of another Good News Room there.
Today, the network is helping create a new generation of positive young journalists across the UK and internationally, including projects in Malawi.
Students work in positive real newsroom-style environments where are are inspired to belong.
They are taught to find inspirational stories (including their own) from their school, community and charities and to publish them on the Good News Post online UK-global newspaper. The best stories make it to the wider Media.
They also interview major public figures including NASA astronauts, world leaders, MPs, Mr Speaker, charities, businesses and national organisations.
Since 2011, young reporters have been trained and supported by professional journalists and media experts from organisations including the BBC, Sky News, ITV, CBS News America and national newspapers including The Sunday Times.
The entire project was created by The Purple Sheep, which established the Good News Rooms, the Good News Post newspaper and the Jill Dando News Network.
To support its continued growth across the UK and beyond, The Purple Sheep later created Good News Post Ltd, which now runs and develops the Good News Post, Good News Rooms and the Jill Dando News Network.
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.
They even have a Jill Dando style Good News Room in Malawi.
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 21, 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. There is much more to come.
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 4 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 4 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.
