Schoolchildren will get advice on careers in journalism as part of a regional publisher’s bid to promote social mobility.

Almost 500 state school pupils across the country will take part in a series of free virtual workshops, starting today, organised by Reach plc.

The events have been organised by ‘ReachPotential’, a network of staffers from around the business dedicated to ending educational inequality.

The talks, which will look at career opportunities in the media and advertising worlds, last for 45 minutes and are entitled ‘Behind the News’.

Speakers include Daily Mirror assistant editor Darren Lewis and commercial group head Sarah-Jane Thomas.

Next month, Reach will also offer a two-day workshop aimed at students with an interest in storytelling.

It will feature a live editorial conference from the Mirror offices as the editors plan the next day’s issue.

Sunday Mirror editor and ReachPotential co-chair Gemma Aldridge, pictured, said: “We’re really excited to be launching this great initiative – not just because it’s the right thing to do but because it will make us better as a company.

“At the Mirror we know we have a responsibility to be representative, to reflect our readers and our society in everything we do – the clue is in our name.

“That means not only being inclusive in the stories we tell and the way we tell them but in the make-up of our newsrooms.

“We want young people from all financial and social backgrounds, all races, faiths and genders to know they have the opportunity to thrive here and we believe our papers, websites and other platforms will be better as a result.

“Reach is the biggest news publisher in the country so getting this right will have a huge impact on a traditionally exclusive and sometimes impenetrable industry.”