The Telegraph’s Media Literacy Programme Returns for a Fifth Year

Now in its fifth year, The Telegraph’s Media Literacy Programme returned in March 2025.  aim is to break down the barriers to careers in journalism, and provide school pupils aged 16-18 with the tools and skills to think critically about the media landscape. This year the scheme reached over 1000 students from more than 400 schools across the United Kingdom - an increase of 54% compared with 2024. From Swansea to Coventry, Nailsea to Norfolk, Manchester to Slough and Belfast to Peebles, participants were highly engaged, submitting around 700 questions across the month-long programme. Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 94% saying they enjoyed the sessions delivered, and had a better understanding of journalism after completing the sessions.

Greg Dickinson, Senior Travel Writer at The Telegraph, hosted the programme and was joined by journalists from across the newsroom who covered topics including: Video; Politics; Travel; Podcasts and Foreign reporting alongside Sports; Social Media; Fashion; Music; Design and Features. 

The interactive virtual timetable included: Writing Your Own Story; Inside the World of Podcasts; How to be a Sports Writer; Inside the World of a Senior Fashion Editor; Making the Telegraph Beautiful; Life as a Politics Reporter and A Day in the Life as The Deputy Foreign Editor. Each week, the attendees were set a ‘journalism challenge’ by one of the speakers in order to help develop their writing skills. 

Participants had the opportunity to learn about The Telegraph future talent schemes, which include work experience, apprenticeships and graduate programmes. Everyone who completed the programme was awarded a certificate and was invited to join the Media Literacy Programme Alumni Talent Pool where entry-level opportunities are shared. 

Ian MacGregor, Telegraph Editor Emeritus, said: ''It was fantastic to see more than 1,000 sixth-formers take part in the month-long programme this year. And the fact that they seem to have enjoyed learning so much about quality journalism and how it is created makes it all really worthwhile.''

Feedback from participants: “The fact that we were able to access knowledge and experience from some incredible journalists and gain some really great tips from them which will certainly be helpful in my future aspirations.”

“It was incredibly inspiring to learn about the diverse paths they took to get to where they are, and how they navigate challenges in their work.”

“Hearing from different journalists helped me widen my thoughts about career options - for example, I had never really thought about culture journalism, but now I am.”