Ellesmere Port's child journalist launches child-friendly news website attracting thousands

12-year-old Jake is spreading positivity throughout the community

A 12 year old schoolboy from Ellesmere Port has created a stir in his local community with his innovative project, Ellesmere Port News. Launched in October 2024, the website, founded by young Jake Cliff, delivers weekly news stories from a youthful perspective, targeting a younger audience with the aim of disseminating positivity throughout the area.

With the assistance of a team of young contributors aged 11-15, Jake's website has already garnered over 10,000 views across the region since its inception. However, for this budding journalist, this is merely the starting point as he looks to expand his increasingly popular platform.

Jake explained: "I was inspired to create Ellesmere Port News as I read lots of newspapers. Seeing stories that stood out to me made me think, 'one day I could write something like that.' So, I built the Ellesmere Port News website to do just that."

"However, I was keen to publish positive stories only as I wanted the site to be child-friendly, like our team. I also wanted our readers to feel as though they're in a safe space, rather than always seeing news that shows the terrors of the world which might give people anxiety. I believe that positive news makes people feel better. And that's what Ellesmere Port News tries to do."

Ellesmere Port Church of England College student Jake has set himself the ambitious goal of penning three stories nightly for his website, attributing his academic pursuits and camaraderie to its growing success. He remarked: "I have picked up a lot of writing skills through working on the site, and I found that I can use the English skills I have learnt in school to aid my writing."

Jake is not going it alone; he has rallied a team of fellow students to support the endeavour. "I also have a team of school friends that help me. Ellesmere Port News is run by all young people. I write the stories, and my friends help me with taking photos for the site. On the first night that we launched the website, we got around 50 views."

The venture's viewership has ascended impressively, with Jake adding: "Now, we are ranging from 100 to 200 views per post, and have had over 10,000 views on the website in total. It has been really cool to see the website be recognised."

Steff, Jake's mother, expressed immense pride in her son's accomplishments, describing him as "determined" and "hard-working". She shared: "When Jake told me about his idea for a news website, I said 'go for it'. He then built the website, which he programmed all on his own. It looks phenomenal, and so professional."

Jake's journey has not just been about increasing views; his self-assurance has soared too. Steff noted: "Jake's confidence has grown enormously since starting his writing. But he is keen to grow the news site more, by promoting his page, forming a schedule to write stories daily, and having guest journalists contribute to his site to increase his content. He is such a determined and hard-working young man I can tell he is going to have an amazing future."

Since October, Ellesmere Port News has been at the forefront of local reporting, featuring a variety of community happenings such as fundraisers, Ellesmere Port 2025 Pride, and Ellesmere Port Comic Con. The site has even caught the eye of political figures, with Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough, Justin Madders, endorsing the efforts of Jake.

On the Ellesmere Port News website, Mr Madders expressed his admiration: "Great work from such a young person and a good thing for the community. I hope this website is the best thing for the community and the County of Ellesmere Port."

Yet, for Jake, the pinnacle of his aspirations lies ahead as he aims to carve out a career in journalism. He shared his ambitions, saying, "I am inspired by a lot of journalists," and "I do wish to join a newspaper when I am older, maybe a big publication like the Liverpool ECHO."

To explore Ellesmere Port News and back Jake's initiative, his website is accessible here.