Young journalist competition is launched online
Budding young journalists aged 10 to 19 across Warwickshire are being urged to get writing, recording and even videoing their own special reports in a bid to become the county’s Young Journalist of the Year...
...and win the opportunity to produce an hour of BBC Coventry & Warwickshire’s Breakfast Show!
In a first this year, Warwickshire County Council’s annual Young Journalist Competition, which is run as part of the county council’s Local Democracy Campaign, has been launched online and by video at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/localdemocracy.
In the video launch, which can be viewed on the website by clicking on the ‘Young Journalist Competition’ link, Councillor Izzi Seccombe, Portfolio Holder for Children, Families and Young People, explains how young people can get involved. The theme of this year’s competition is the environment.
Also for the first time this year, young people can not only write an article but can also submit an audio or video report as their entry. Suggested topics that could be discussed in the reports include issues such as climate change, litter, graffiti, recycling or even the conservation of a local park.
Written articles should be no longer than 500 words and audio or video reports should be no longer than five minutes in length.
Video and audio reports can be entered by an individual or can be worked on by a group of up to four people. They can be submitted on CD or DVD or can be uploaded onto YouTube, Yahoo Video or Picture Bucket – then just email memberservices@warwickshire.gov.uk to say where the entry can be found.
The closing date of the competition is the 31st December. After that, a panel of County Councillors will get together to decide the winning entries.
Winners will be chosen from three age categories – year 6, years 7 to 9, and years 10 to 13 – and will be treated to a trip to BBC Coventry and Warwickshire studios where they’ll get the chance to produce the last hour of the Breakfast Show. The winners will also be showcased on the Warwickshire County Council website.
Last year’s winner, twelve-year-old Andrew Ballantyne from Alcester High School Technology College, wowed the judges with his writing skills in an article about the work and living conditions of migrant vegetable pickers.
Written entries or entries on CD or DVD should be sent to: Take Part Take Power, Member Services, PO Box 9, Shire Hall, Warwick CV34 4RR.
For more information visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/localdemocracy, email memberservices@warwickshire.gov.uk or telephone 01926 412323.