Isabelle Trubshaw Says Working for The Dragon Has Been an ‘Absolute Whirlwind’

Published on: 27 Jan, 2026
Updated on: 27 Jan, 2026

Isabelle Trubshaw

Isabelle Trubshaw is the latest post-graduate work experience reporter to have volunteered for the Dragon NEWS and is quickly finding her feet finding and developing stories to report. Here she introduces herself to Dragon readers and says how she is finding her role…

I have been working at The Guildford Dragon NEWS since early September (2025) and it has been an absolute whirlwind so far – from interviewing locals on Guildford High Street, to exposing public scandals of real significance.

I’m incredibly grateful to the team who have welcomed me with open arms, thrown me into the deep end of journalism, and trusted me with such a breadth of stories, so early on.

Guildford is a jewel in Surrey’s crown, rich in economic, political, and cultural significance, and has been the perfect canvas on which to learn the ropes of good journalism.

Covering a wide range of stories, interviewing, communicating with local bodies, researching and reporting on local issues, is helping me grow in confidence. I have also loved meeting so many different members of the community, from all demographics, and learning more about my local roots.

While local journalism often takes a back seat to national news, working for The Dragon has shown me just how powerful local reporting can be, particularly when it reaches the communities most directly affected.

Recently, I reported on the eviction of an elderly woman from the West Horsley Place estate, and following the article, she has received significant public support. This demonstrated to me the tangible impact local journalism can have. By informing the community of Guildford borough’s developments and difficulties, I believe we can bring the local people together as a more informed collective.

But, of course, when reporting, I have to be careful to remain objective: there is always more than one side to any story.

Over the coming months, I’m eager to continue developing as a journalist and to pursue stories that push me further outside my comfort zone, as I prepare to begin an MA in Broadcast Journalism at City, St George’s this September.

I am particularly excited for my upcoming reviews of ‘Suede’ performing at G Live and Guildford Shakespeare Company’s adaptation of ‘David Copperfield’ next month.