Our trainees heard from Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh, Daily Mirror assistant editor Darren Lewis, The Sun chief Sunday reporter Scarlet Howes and MailOnline reporter Eirian Prosser at JournoFest 2025.
Here, News Associates journalism outreach coordinator Grace Crowley shares the top takeaways from the panel at JournoFest 2025.
Ranvir Singh said: “Never walk past a ringing phone, that will be your chance.”
The Good Morning Britain presenter told our trainees that to get the best stories, you have to reply to every email and follow any lead.
In your early career, you should push through the doubt that the right story won’t come your way.
Be open to anything – no matter how tired you are!
Darren Lewis said: “The minute you walk into a newsroom you are a journalist.”
The Daily Mirror assistant editor says there is no such thing as ‘work experience’ in journalism – you become a journalist as soon as you start. Changing your mindset will help you overcome feeling like you are underqualified.
Scarlet Howes said: “Be enthusiastic!”
By showing willingness to learn inside and outside of the workplace, you are not only getting a better understanding of the industry, but you are proving to editors that you deserve to be in the newsroom.
Make sure to ask questions and be ready to do anything possible for a great scoop.
Eirian Prosser said: “Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from editors.”
Prosser has been described as ‘the very definition of a rising star’ for her journalistic determination.
She knows that to get a great story, you have to use all the resources around you to do so.
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Singh said: “Always be listening in to everything that’s going on around you.”
Doing this will get the attention of your editors as you will be just as aware of the ongoings of the newsroom as them. This means if there is a problem, you are aware of it and can offer solutions quickly. This will gain their trust and you will be given even better jobs.
Lewis said: “If you want to get into the industry, you give yourself the best chance at being able to if you are producing content itself on a regular basis.”
Great journalists are consistent ones. By regularly producing content you prove you can repeatedly provide a high standard of work – a skill editors are looking for in early-career journalists.
Howes said: “When the news editor tells you to go somewhere, you have to go there.”
Being prepared to do everything you can for an excellent story is part of what it means to be a journalist.
Howes spoke about how she had to sacrifice going on holiday to work on her story about the Huw Edwards scandal. This determination led to her winning the Investigation of the Year at last year’s Society of Editors’ Awards.
@newsassociates_ Get a peak into the festivities and brilliant speakers at our tenth JournoFest with our journalism outreach coordinator Grace Crowley 🎉 🌟 #JournoFest #TeamNA #StartedHere #DayInMyLife #NewsAssociates #LIVE ♬ original sound – teeharpo
You can read all the highlights and top tips from JournoFest 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 here.