Find out from one of our Year 10 students about their class trip to a newsroom.

As we emerged from London Bridge station and saw the News Building opposite the looming Shard, we knew we were in for an exciting trip. Inside, the sense of purpose was palpable; people dressed with style and sophistication and marched towards the lifts, carrying them to their offices on the upper floors. Our guide expertly led us around the offices, drawing our attention to the paper’s rich history and explaining each of the paper’s sections to us. Observing the journalists hard at work, writing tomorrow’s stories, was fascinating and filled me with excitement.

The building was impressive, the views from the top more so, but the highlight for us all was undoubtedly our conversation with the paper’s editor Tony Gallagher. He patiently answered all our questions before inviting us to observe an afternoon conference, where the journalists come together to share which stories and photos have made the cut. We were also given an opportunity to speak with three young journalists who each described their differing paths into journalism. At the end of the trip, I walked out of the building full of admiration and respect for the journalists who worked there. The news never sleeps; there are always stories to tell. If you want to understand today’s world and feel connected to the events that shape our present and future, then I urge you all to pick up a newspaper over the Easter holidays and give it a read.

Sofia L, Year 10