Seven Jill Dando News Centres were formally launched on Friday in the UK and Africa, 20 years to the day since the BBC TV presenter’s death.
The centres are part of the former TV presenter’s legacy which lives on, aiming to deliver good news and positive mental wellbeing in schools, including Highbridge’s King Alfred School Academy.
Famous names including Sir Cliff Richard and Alan Titchmarsh have sent good luck messages this week ahead of the anniversary and launches.
Students are trained by Jill’s brother Nigel and other professional journalists and editors from local, regional and national media.
Nigel says said: “This scheme is mind-bogglingly brilliant. Jill would be tickled pink by it all.”
Sir Cliff said the students are honouring Jill in such a fitting way. He says: “I can honestly say that Jill Dando was one of my very closest friends. As a TV journalist she was honest, factual and charming. What a delight to hear that because of the legacy she left us, thousands of people are following in her footsteps with good news stories.”
TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh adds: ”Jill was not only a brilliant journalist, she was a wonderful person. She emanated goodwill and fun.”
And best-selling author Jeffrey Archer says: “Jill was gentle and kind and I never met anyone who did not like her, never. She was also very professional at the job she did.”
World explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes adds: “Well done to the students of Jill‘s old school who are bringing her memory alive with a living, breathing news centre to train up young journalists and get out good news.”
“Stories of children showing great, determination and all the acts of positivity inspire others and fill the media with much-needed good news.”
Over 5,000 children in Somerset and Malawi have been inspired by the life of Jill to push out good news across the area in local newspapers, radio and TV.
The schools with JDNCs are King Alfred School Academy in Highbridge, Priory Community School Academy, St Anne’s Church Academy, Castle Batch Primary School Academy in Weston, and one is being built in Pawlett Primary School Academy. African children in Malawi also have a JDNC, set up last summer by Sarah O’ Gorman from the Priory JDNC.
A spokesman says: “The students’ work has highlighted Jill’s life and legacy, boosting positivity, kindness, good news and mental wellbeing. Armed with iPads and notepads, the children aged 9 to 18 find and write positive stories across their schools and community.”
“Their stories then go into the media, and social media, and also in their own newspaper ‘The Post’ which they deliver to their old primary schools.”
Jacob Kemp, 14, from The King Alfred School Academy, said: “Our young journalists and students at the various schools are passionate about remembering Jill and the legacy that she has left behind for the journalists of the future to follow.”
Students from Jill’s old school, Worle Community School Academy in Weston officially open their JDNC and TV station JDTV with a ceremony today (Friday).
