Shine news

‘Do it right, it runs itself’ is the motto of Alan Williams, formerly of Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, whose student publication has won several accolades under his overseeing eye.

He gives this advice on how to start up a student project:

I’m not the kind of person who tells other professionals what they should do. Instead, I will give an account of the things that I did in my ten years of running a Publications Committee. First off is to have a vision of the direction you want to go. Are you a political/opinion-based Publication or are you reflecting the things going on in your school community?

Now is the time to talk to your students about beginning a team project that will enhance their enjoyment of school and learning and give them great life skills!

Whether it’s recording a podcast, editing, designing, or writing a feature, working as a team on a publication is a meaningful and useful learning experience, and it is also great fun for all involved. All ages can get involved and it is a great vehicle for connecting different age groups in the school.

A magazine, newspaper or podcast is ultimately all-inclusive and offers a platform for diverse groups to communicate with their immediate and wider worlds.

We’re launching Shine 2023 with encouragement from our Chair, Alison, who says;

If your school does not yet offer its students a platform for self-expression then we strongly recommend that you start one this year!

Having the skill to communicate effectively is essential for all young people, whatever future career they may end up in.

A publication offers the opportunity to learn teamwork, to work to deadlines, to think about how to get a message across, and to express concerns or interests that are outside of curriculum restraints.

At the Shine Awards 2021, the recipient of the Terry Mansfield MBE Award for Tomorrow’s Talent was Alex Mortimer from Ibstock Place School, who won for her magazine ‘Young Minds’ which focussed on mental health.

This year, we invited Alex to return and address the ceremony and give out this year’s award.

Alex’s speech was inspiring and moving in equal measure. Read what she said…

At this year’s Shine Awards, it was thrilling for the audience to hear from Sir Nicholas Coleridge, former Editorial Director and President of the Conde Nast media empire.

Sir Nicholas told the attendees about his amazing career and how he believes it should be a government requirement for every school to have its own magazine – which is where he began his interest in media as a teenager.

Congratulations to everyone who came along to the Shine School Media Awards 2022 yesterday. We had an incredible celebration of tomorrow’s talent from across the UK – and beyond.