How to be successful in the newsroom panel at JournoFest 2026
Our trainees heard the secrets to being successful in a newsroom from three terrific journalists in the final panel at our 11th annual JournoFest conference at The Exchange in Twickenham.
Every year we host a journalism conference packed with notable journalists from national newspapers and broadcasters and emerging digital platforms. JournoFest brings together trainees and alumni from all our courses including our BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism degree and prospective members of #TeamNA.
Here part-time trainee Toby Hall shares his key takeaways from Daily Mail chief news correspondent Inderdeep Bains, BBC South online journalist Charlotte Coles and The Telegraph senior data journalist Ollie Corfe.
Inderdeep Bains credited her success when starting out in the newsroom with ‘having the right attitude’.
The Daily Mail correspondent said coming into the newsroom with the right level of enthusiasm will help you stand out.
She said you should let someone know what you are keen to do and you will be surprised at how often people will throw opportunities your way because you have expressed a desire to learn from the people around you.
Having enthusiasm and determination is essential in a news reporting job.
She recalled being asked to cover a court case in Cyprus on a Sunday night, which began at 9am the next day.
This sort of dedication means she has since covered the Westminster, Borough Market, and Manchester Arena terror attacks, as well as the Grenfell Tower fire.
She said: “The story is never about you, it’s always bigger than you.”
Ollie Corfe said his success came down to finding his niche.
For him, discovering data journalism was the key to helping him stand out from others, enabling him to forge a more specialised skill set.
It even got him shortlisted for an NCTJ award for excellence!
He encouraged anyone who has a mix of different skills to find a particular area and use it to leverage a broader variety of stories.
✍️ ‘Labour and the Conservatives are well on their way to being little more than spectators to Reform’s clash with the far-Left at the next general election’ | Writes Ollie Corfe (@the_one_n_ollie)
Read more 👇https://t.co/3ceD00HwX3 pic.twitter.com/ue6G5J0eeR
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) October 16, 2025
Charlotte Coles said: “Say yes to absolutely everything, especially the things which push you out of your comfort zone.”
The BBC South journalist said the more you say yes to things, the more opportunities will come your way.
For her, gaining exposure in areas which you might have initially found daunting is key to building your career early on.
Showing this willingness to learn is something employers are actively looking for.
Coles said she would recommend getting experience covering a patch as her reporting on Bicester for the Oxford Mail in her early career helped her build strong skills and contacts.
She said: “Lean into your network.”
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One of her contacts told her about the job opening and put her in touch with a journalist in the department who gave her advice for the application.
All three speakers pointed to the importance of hard work and resilience, especially in the early stages of a journalism career.
See our highlights from previous JournoFest events here.