THE UK’s first Black-owned journalism school for children will open next month.
Cocoa School of Journalism and Creative Arts will open on Monday 8 April, and aims to inspire and nurture children of all ages, who are interested in news journalism, podcasting and story writing.
The school is being launched by Serlina Boyd, founder of Cocoa Girl – the UK’s first Black girl magazine – who believes it’s time to “shake up” the British media industry.
In a statement released exclusively to The Voice, ahead of the grand opening, she said: “We are excited to announce the opening of our journalism school at Cocoa Publishing.
“Our school will not only teach children the fundamentals of journalism, but also provide support for those with special educational needs.”
She added: “Join us in shaping the future of journalism and storytelling.
“According to the Sutton Trust, 80% of editors went to private school; only 11% of journalists are from working-class backgrounds, and a measly 0.2% of journalists are Black.
“It’s time to shake up the industry and change the narrative.”
The media entrepreneur said the school – based in Beckenham, south London – will also have an adult storytelling centre for parents and guardians.
Cocoa Girl magazine launched in June 2020, and is the brainchild of the mother-of-two and her daughter Faith.
A few months later, the mother-daughter duo launched Cocoa Boy in September 2020.
The publication has since grown in popularity and is a firm favourite with families up and down the country.
On Instagram, Cocoa Girl has over 34,000 followers and the magazine is currently distributed in 500 schools across the United Kingdom.
Boyd told The Voice, the journalism school will be open to children from all backgrounds and free Caribbean and African cuisine will be available to those who attend.
Creativity
The special hub will also offer graphic design, fashion styling, a music academy – with adult evening classes and much more.
She said: “We want to teach children about writing and journalism and the power of words.
“It’s during the Easter holidays, we are doing two-hour sessions for children, we are going to talk about writing and journalism.
“But we are also helping them to write their own short stories that they submit to our Bloomsbury competition.”
“We are going to continue that through-out the summer,” she added.
Use your voice
Boyd said she hopes to nurture the next generation of reporters and creatives and wants adults to also take up a new hobby and join in the fun.
She added: “We have got evening classes for adults, if they want to get into it, there’s a lot of people that can write and they don’t know it.
“They have so much to contribute and so much to tell the world.
“I hope the school will empower children and adults to use their voice because it is a gift.”
While Boyd finalises her rota, she told The Voice, she is looking to hire Black media professionals to help teach and run some of the workshops.
The magazine founder previously told The Voice, that the next issue of her magazine will honour Britian’s first Black female MP Diane Abbott, with a prestigious cover for ‘The Rise Issue‘, which is comes out in April.
Cocoa School of Journalism and Creative Arts will be based at Venue 28 in Beckenham in South London.
Parents and Guardians can sign up for the Cocoa School of Journalism and Creative Arts here: www.cocoagirl.com.
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England’s African-heritage youth boast of hating reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Most struggle to complete a sentence without using the word “like” repetitively, or “do you get me.”
As a volunteer on a bookstall, the hostility to books from African-heritage youth, and their parents is shocking.
The only two books African-heritage people claim to read is the bible, and the Koran.
The only way Ms Serlina Boyd’s Journalism school will survive, is to open the catchment group to anyone who wishes to acquire the skills of a journalists; regardless of the colour of their skin.
I agree with you Chaka Artwell
I am the writer of the “One thing about history series. I recall speaking to a young girl with her father once explaining the concept of the books, they were completely nonchalant about black history and the community saying “As long as it doesn’t affect me and my family we are good”. We have a long way to go as a people and can see the results within the community that although we have amazing concepts the majority are just not interested.