WHEN it comes to finding out what the media is all about year five at Tonge Moor Primary School is more than a match for the average experienced journalist, writes Bolton News columnist Angela Kelly.

There is nothing like a classroom full of direct nine and 10 year-olds for winkling out facts — which I quickly discovered during a morning with youngsters at the Bolton school.

Teacher Gillian Lister and teaching assistant Leanne Cowell had invited me along to offer some practical help with the pupils' media and writing project.

Which was why, after a working lifetime asking other people questions, I was in the hot-seat with 29 inquisitive and determined "junior reporters".

"How did you get interested in journalism?" "What is your favourite type of story to cover?" "When you were growing up which news reporter did you admire?" and "Who is the nicest famous person you've ever interviewed?"

Now, finally, I have sympathy with all the people I have grilled about their lives. Talk about pressure to come up with a quotable soundbite.

"The children are very interested in the media," explained Mrs Lister.

"This followed on from last term when we studied natural disasters. Since then we have looked at various ways that news like that is covered in the media, at blogs and about the importance of getting the facts right for a fair and balanced report."

Certainly, year five are very media-savvy.

They read The Bolton News and some of them see it online. Some like the radio news, local and national, and others watch the BBC headlines.

They know that local news can be important "because you want to find out what the council is doing as it might not do the right thing", as one pupil succinctly put it.

They all felt confident about writing and had written some excellent reports about different aspects of their school. Several felt they could write a book: one potential blockbuster was about a pig who thought he was a chicken and another about a girl and a volcano.

They grasped the importance of asking the right questions when interviewing — Who? What? Why? When? Where? and How? — along with extra information.

Then they demonstrated their skills by splitting into pairs and interviewing each other, as their favourite celebrities. Apparently, it is a little known fact that Wayne Rooney is married to Taylor Swift.

And that was definitely a Tonge Moor Primary School exclusive!