Key Points
- Year Four pupils at Washacre Primary School in Westhoughton participated in a special local media careers workshop.
- The event was organised by the charity Inspiring the Future as part of the UK Government’s Discover Creative Careers programme.
- Funding for the nationwide initiative was provided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) alongside the News Media Association (NMA).
- Prominent regional media figures, including Regional Editor North West Richard Duggan, visited the classroom to share insights into print journalism, reporting, and podcasting.
- School children engaged in interactive activities, including a guessing game to identify the specific roles of media professionals.
- Statistical data revealed a massive surge in career interest and understanding, with comprehension of "local media" rising from 44 per cent to 80 per cent by the end of the session.
- Headteacher Chris Howarth praised the volunteers, noting that the primary objective of the session was to raise the long-term aspirations of the pupils.
Westhoughton (Bolton Today) June 30, 2026 — Primary school pupils in Greater Manchester have been given a unique, behind-the-scenes insight into the fast-paced world of local journalism during a specialist educational workshop. Journalists and senior editors headed directly to Washacre Primary School, located in Westhoughton, to engage with the school's Year Four cohort. The interactive session was designed to introduce the younger generation to the vast array of professional pathways available within the modern local media landscape, sparking early interest in writing, broadcasting, and content creation.
The local media event was orchestrated by the national education charity Inspiring the Future. It forms an integral part of the Government's ongoing Discover Creative Careers programme, a robust multi-agency initiative funded directly by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in close partnership with the News Media Association (NMA). By connecting classroom learning with real-world industry leaders, the campaign aims to significantly broaden children's and young people's horizons, dismantling stereotypes about the media sector and revealing the highly accessible career choices functioning right on their doorsteps.
Why are media professionals visiting primary schools in Westhoughton?
As reported by reporter Grace Williams of The Bolton News, the foundational objective of the campaign is to demystify local news gathering and highlight the cultural importance of community reporting. Among the high-profile industry experts volunteering at the school was Regional Editor North West Richard Duggan. During his time in front of the classroom, Mr Duggan answered a flurry of complex questions from the highly enthusiastic Year Four pupils, discussing the mechanics of print journalism, digital publishing networks, and his personal career route into an executive editorial role.
The editor noted that early engagement is vital for the long-term sustainability of local public interest journalism. Commenting on the day, as documented by reporter Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Mr Duggan stated that
“It was so inspiring to see the children excited and interested in what local media is and the different roles available.”
He further explained that expanding the horizons of the younger generation is essential for the future of newsrooms across the United Kingdom.
In a detailed reflection published by The Bolton News, Mr Duggan stated:
"I knew it was a no brainer to reach out to young people, after all, they are the future and we need them to be considering a career in our industry. But, I didn't realise how rewarding I would find the whole process of engaging with them and talking about my job. The pupils, their teachers and the Inspiring the Future team were incredible."
Concluding his remarks to the media, Mr Duggan issued a direct call to action to other journalists and broadcasters working across the county. As reported by The Bolton News, Mr Duggan stated:
"If you're in the Media in the North West, I encourage you to get involved in this brilliant scheme."
Explore More Westhoughton News
Major Westhoughton Property Extension Plans Approved by Council: Westhoughton 2026
Phil Cunliffe Completes Epic Isle of Man Rowing Challenge: Westhoughton 2026
How did Year Four students react to the journalism workshop?
The hands-on workshop provided immediate clarity to students who had previously given little thought to how news is produced or distributed. Journalists from The Bolton News caught up directly with the Year Four pupils following the completion of the session to find out exactly what they had learned and how the local media event had altered their future professional goals.
For many of the children, the realization that media extends beyond traditional physical newspapers was a major eye-opener. As reported by reporter Grace Williams of The Bolton News, a student named Apollo said:
"When the guests came into our class, I didn't realise there were so many media jobs that I could have."
Apollo openly admitted that before the visitors arrived, he did not know much about the inner workings of media and journalism.
The workshop structure utilized interactive games to keep the young audience fully captivated. Describing the classroom activities to The Bolton News, Apollo said:
"There were three guests and we had to guess their jobs. One was a newspaper editor; another was a reporter and the third was a podcaster."
This interactive deduction game proved to be an overwhelming favorite among the class members. Fellow classmate Aysel echoed this positive sentiment, stating to reporter Grace Williams of The Bolton News:
"I especially liked when we had to guess the jobs."
The sheer variety of employment options hidden within local news organisations brought immense encouragement to the students. Expressing his excitement about his future options, a pupil named Abe told The Bolton News:
"I felt really happy to know there's lots of jobs I could pick. I could be a podcaster. My dad goes running and he listens to something called Talk Of The Devils, it's a United podcast."
What specific media careers are these youngsters now considering?
The direct contact with industry figures immediately altered the career trajectories of several Washacre Primary School students, who began aligning their hobbies with media professions. According to the original reporting by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Abe expressed a keen interest in eventually combining his passion for sport with media, stating that he liked the idea of becoming a sports journalist. Conversely, his close friend Tommy maintained a different dream, telling the publication that he would still prefer to be a professional footballer.
Other pupils found themselves firmly drawn toward the world of broadcasting and visual presentation. Elaborating on his newfound career aspirations, Apollo told The Bolton News:
"I felt really inspired, I would like to be a news reporter. I'd like to do the presenting in front of a camera."
For those with a passion for art, design, and literacy, the print and digital layout aspects of the industry proved highly appealing. As recorded by reporter Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Aysel stated that she would love to write and design the front page of a newspaper.
What do school leaders think about the Discover Creative Careers initiative?
Educational leaders at the institution viewed the event as a monumental success in expanding the baseline knowledge of the student body. Washacre Primary School Headteacher Chris Howarth expressed profound gratitude for the external support, emphasizing the critical value of introducing children to industry professionals at an early developmental stage.
Reflecting on the visitor interactions, as reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Headteacher Chris Howarth stated:
"It's been a really exciting day, I think the volunteers have been fantastic. We wanted to get involved with the project to raise the aspirations of our children."
The school leader was particularly impressed by the academic depth displayed by the Year Four cohort during the question-and-answer portion of the morning. In his official statement recorded by The Bolton News, Mr Howarth added:
"They asked some insightful and interesting questions and hopefully one or two of our children will be inspired to enter the local media in the future."
Furthermore, Mr Howarth noted that the event had successfully given the young pupils a much more profound, nuanced understanding of the modern media matrix, particularly regarding the crucial civil and democratic role that local journalism plays within town communities like Westhoughton.