Coventry journalism students take over local newspaper community pages

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Final year journalism students at Coventry University will be a regular fixture in local paper the Coventry Telegraph thanks to a new work experience scheme with the paper.

Students will take over the Telegraph's community news pages in its print edition and be responsible for filing text and images for the section.

"In our industry we talk about training the next generation but do very little about it. This continuous rolling scheme allows student journalists – at the heart of our community in Coventry – to practice and write real time. I will soon spot the stars of the future. After all, Jeremy Vine and Dermot Murnaghan started on the 'Tele'. We are delighted to launch it," says Coventry Telegraph editor Darren Parkin in a statement from Coventry University.

Senior journalism lecturer at the university John Mair said the partnership would offer students a valuable change to build their portfolio and for the university to build future partnerships with the local title.

Parkin, who took over as editor of the Telegraph in October 2009, first became an editor at the age of 24 at the Wolverhampton News. He started his career on a youth training scheme at the Dewsbury Reporter and has established a regular work placement scheme at the Telegraph for Coventry Students since taking up his editorship.