Bethia Wyborn is a trainee multimedia reporter for the Tavistock Times Gazette series, working with a focus upon the Okehampton Times.
Bethia secured a place as one of only 10 journalists to take part in an inaugural six month scheme organised by Women In Journalism, a not for profit organisation which aims to enable female editorial staff to fulfil their potential, to learn video skills to deliver credible news online.
Having joined the company in November 2024, she discusses her role and the opportunities she has to report in detail on the issues which mean the most to local people.
What are the main responsibilities in your role?
I primarily write for the Okehampton Times. I go out and speak to people to get the news for our newspaper and website. I go to public meetings and go through local crime reports to see what is going on. As I am a trainee I work with the other journalists here who are able to offer advice and sometimes we work together on stories.
A lot of stories come from social media, that could be seeing something discussed in Facebook groups which I then follow up. I will research each story and speak to contacts to get all the information we need. There have been a few times I have got stories from TikTok and Instagram Reels, which I might follow up by contacting the person who published them.
I grew up in Devon and I have a first class degree in journalism from the University of Sheffield. While I was there I won the Gavin Reeve-Daniels Memorial Prize for Magazine Journalism, for the best overall performance in the magazine components of the final degree assessment.
Which jobs did you have before you joined the company?
I worked in my local pub for a while and I used to clean caravans. I did a month long internship for a magazine, during which I did a lot of video clips and I got to interview some celebrities. I worked on the student magazine and did some work in public relations as well as an internship for a news agency during which my work appeared in Pick Me Up and Chat magazine.
What was the appeal of joining Tindle?
There was a strong appeal to work in local news in general. I am still learning and so I wanted to go in at the deep end to learn to become a journalist. I grew up in Devon and spend time each working in Okehampton and Tavistock.
What is a typical working day in your role?
First thing I look at my emails including any press releases sent in, before creating a list of stories which I will work through during the day. I sent it to my editor, with whom I have a morning meeting. I probably average two interviews a day and aim to produce up to four stories.
We produce videos as often as we can, to post on our website and social media. I also post on social media to encourage people to read our stories online. My senior colleagues review my copy and when it is ready they upload it to the newspaper templates and to the website.
Which colleagues do you interact with the most in your working day?
I work with senior editorial colleagues including the editor, chief reporter and senior reporter, who have many years of experience. It was a big pull to come here to work with people with such knowledge and experience. We share an office with advertising colleagues so I speak to them.
What do you enjoy about working for Tindle?
I like the flexibility of being able to work between offices and the freedom to follow up stories of my choice. If I am passionate about a story there is the chance to cover it in more detail for the newspaper or online. For example, there were allegations about fox hunting taking place locally so I was able to look into it, including speaking to the huntsmen. Overall I was able to write quite a bit about it each week because of the support from my editorial colleagues which helped me pursue it. With Tindle being a community publisher I am given scope to follow up stories like this, which is great.
How do you use digital in your role?
I take photos and have learned how to edit them. I can make infographics to explain the facts and figures behind a story. I also create artwork to be used on social media to encourage people to read more. I am learning more about how to use video as part of my fellowship.
What are your interests outside of work?
I am into music and I go to concerts. I spend time with my friends and being in Devon I like to go cold water swimming.