Three new apprentice journalists are developing their careers with us by mixing college tuition with on the job experience.
Tomos Evans (pictured), James Griffiths and Marcus McQuilton are on board to work alongside our editorial teams in delivering trusted community news at our titles in south west England and Wales while they gain recognised formal journalism training.
We have recruited three apprentices to join our news brands on the back of having successfully supported our first cohort of five learners through to the completion of their National Council for the Training of Journalists qualifications and the continuation of their editorial careers.
Tindle apprentices gain an on-the-job understanding of newsgathering and reporting, while studying for their NCTJ qualifications. Working in a multi-platform environment, the apprentices gain skills in producing video for our websites, photographs for publication and engaging news copy, as well as strong experience of digital publishing and social media audience development.
Marcus McQuilton, 22, is working for the Farnham Herald series, along with the Woking News & Mail, as his first experience of journalism having previously worked in catering.
After starting in February, his experience to date includes reporting on a hospital visit by then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, covering the unrest in his region and its aftermath, along with the arrival of film production for a movie starring Gerard Butler which affected a town centre.
Marcus said: “Some of the things I have done already have been a baptism of fire as I have had the chance to work on the biggest stories. People may assume that as an apprentice you are confined to limited responsibilities but I will never forget the experience of reporting on the Prime Minister’s visit after only a few weeks in the role.
“The three of us who are apprentices are constantly in communication as we learn and share experiences. It has been very helpful to be part of a cohort so that even though we are dotted around the country we can learn together.”
Tomos Evans reports for The Forester as well as our neighbouring titles covering the Forest of Dean and surrounding areas including the Wye Valley, Ross and Brecon.
Tomos, who had found training opportunities limited after completing his university master’s degree in journalism and media communication in 2019, said: “I like working for Tindle as the company is focussed more on the community than many other local publishers.
“I have always been an advocate for the little man so this role will be critical in my career. I am speaking to a lot of people in the community so I feel the responsibility of getting their story right.
“I have lived in Cwmbran nearly my whole life so to have the opportunity to get my qualifications while working in this region is one that I am grabbing with both hands.”
James Griffiths is based at the Wellington Weekly News in Somerset. James said: “Prior to joining Tindle, I worked in television post-production as a dailies operator and in pre-production as a researcher for the BBC and Sky Crime.
“I hold a BA (Hons) in Film, where I gained comprehensive knowledge of filmmaking. My training and passion for film and television have led me to become a dedicated camera operator, and I also hold a Civil Aviation Authority drone licence.
“With a strong passion for documentary and storytelling in film and tv, I am aiming to bring my documentary filmmaking skills to writing. At the West Somerset Free Press and Wellington Weekly News, I focus on creating online content optimised for SEO.
“My responsibilities include sourcing and writing weekly property features, covering hyperlocal news stories, and assisting with community news and readers’ letters.”
Jon Gripton, Tindle deputy editorial director, said the new editorial colleagues were building on the progress made by the company on apprenticeships.
Jon said: “As a community based publisher we are pleased to give new opportunities to more learners who can get invaluable experience learning in an editorial environment while gaining their essential qualifications.
“We continue to be well-supported by the NCTJ and are looking forward to seeing our apprenticeship intake progress thanks to the support of our experience news teams.”
Our first five editorial apprentices, who were selected after more than 200 people applied, qualified as journalists last year at the end of their training.
The colleagues were recruited in 2021 in the first Tindle apprenticeship drive, our fresh focus on employing journalists in the heart of communities to bolster the popular print titles while growing online reach through our enhanced digital strategy.