Like father, like daughter: Derry NWRC student Jade McClafferty follows in her dad Enda's footsteps

St Johnston native Jade McClafferty this week took the first steps in following her father’s footsteps in a career in broadcast journalism.

Jade, 22, is currently studying a NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) at North West Regional College in Derry and on Saturday was in the Highland Radio newsroom for the first time. Her father Enda is the political editor of BBC Northern Ireland and back in 1993, he first cut his teeth in journalism in the same place.

“I did some work in Highland, mainly to build a portfolio,” Enda, originally from Downings and whose family live in Letterkenny, tells DonegalLive. “It was a first step on the ladder for me, much like it is now for Jade. I am always grateful to the likes of Charlie Collins, who was station manager, Shaun Doherty, Donal Kavanagh, Audrey Carville and Kevin Sharkey, for all they did for me in those early days.”

Enda was a reporter for the Belfast Telegraph’s North West edition in Derry from 1995 to 2000, the same year he and his wife Marina - an artist - welcomed twins to the world, Jade and her sister Kellie, who is currently studying medicine in Aberdeen. Chloe, who is 18, is a student at Raphoe Royal and Prior.

“Thirty years ago my dad, one less chin and a lot more hair, first stepped into Highland Radio, this week I took those same steps,” Jade, who also specialises in social media, says. “My father’s career started in the same newsroom I’ve found myself sat in and I can only hope my career takes off in the same way his has.

“It is something very special to watch a parent progress up the ranks in their career. I remember as kids my sister and I perched in corners of radio studios, a bottle of football special in hand, our dad a finger over his lips silently shushing us as he read the bulletins. I remember the early shifts, listening to him present the Breakfast Programme in Foyle as we drove to school in the mornings. I remember being allowed to stay up past our bedtimes to watch the airings of his first Spotlight documentaries.

“More recently I’ve caught flights with him to London to watch him interview Prime Ministers and politicians at WestMinster. Journalism has been woven into the fabric of my youth so seamlessly it was foolish to think I would escape it. I hope for the next 30 years my dad can watch my career flourish the way I got to watch his.”

Enda recalls the days when he would be broadcasting his daughters would be in the newsroom “sitting quietly with bottles of Football Special.”

“They were very young,” Enda recalls. “They would be sitting in the corner in the bulletin booth and knew that once that red light went on there wasn’t to be a word. Looking back, it was a high-risk strategy from me!

“One of Jade’s lecturers is Suzanne Rogers, who was also connected to Highland and worked for the Donegal News. and working in the local environment will be a great experience for Jade on her journey.”