YOUNGSTERS at Dorchester Middle School have been gaining an insight into life as a local newshound.

The Dorset Echo’s Dorchester reporter Harry Hogger and BBC Radio Solent news reporter Harry Crawford dropped into the Queens Avenue school to share their experiences of the job with Year Six pupils.

The pair outlined the role of the local media as well as the day-to-day workings of their jobs and the differences between print and radio media.

The children asked plenty of questions, including which was the most dangerous job the news gatherers had experienced, before pupils were challenged with coming up with their own headline for the event.

Head of Year Six Richard Howard said the aim of the morning was to give the youngsters a more hands-on learning experience.

He said: “We are trying to make their English lessons realistic and we are trying to approach them from interesting angles.

“We are going to try some more stuff like that to try and bring their learning to life.”

Mr Howard added: “Most kids remember things that are out of the ordinary and something that’s a little bit different.

“If any of them go into this type of career then it’s something that is going to stand them in good stead.”

Key Stage Two literacy teacher Liz James said pupils will later try their hands at writing their own articles, something she hoped the session with working journalists would make easier.

She said: “With journalism, out of everything we do, it’s the thing that is farthest from their comfort zone. Their parents might read a paper but when it comes to writing an article it’s a difficult thing to ask a 10- or 11-year-old to do so. If we can make it more relevant then we are onto a winner.”