“The Young Journalist Ireland Transition Year News Literacy and Student Journalism Programme can be linked effectively to Paper One in the Leaving Certificate. The Department of Education and Science LC English Syllabus states that Paper One is specifically aimed at ‘improving students’ composing abilities’. As an English teacher, I believe it is a very effective programme that helps students explore, develop and improve their writing skills.

“Through the  Programme one encounters the five language genres – information, narration, persuasion, argument and aesthetics – in articles, features etc. in both print and online versions. Press Pass helps to make the teachings of these language genres a very real and tangible experience. And, for the Writing Competition, the variety of entry categories allow students to produce work that mirrors what they will encounter in responding to the Question B and Composing sections of Paper One in the LC.”

“Young Journalist Ireland  facilitates the focused exploration of the outside world within the confines of the TY English classroom.  It encourages students to review how language is used and manipulated in their world and to evaluate its power and impact.  Students who often flourish within the scaffolds of Young Journalist Ireland  are those who find English challenging.  For these students, it seems to spark an interest in writing and journalism that they hadn’t experienced before.  This, I feel, is due to the great variety of opportunity that Young Journalist Ireland  offers.

“The Young Journalist Ireland programme has been one of the most enriching and fulfilling initiatives for Transition Year students in which I have had the pleasure of being involved. Over the past nine years, I have seen my students go beyond the fundamentals of journalism writing, becoming actively engaged with the world around them and developing a critical awareness of the role of the journalist. The initiative has taken them outside the classroom and into the community as they undertake research, conduct interviews, attend events, experiment with photography, forge critical opinions and compose articles.

As well as forming a solid foundation for their Leaving Certificate compositions, the conversations around critical thinking, truth, accuracy, misinformation, ethical journalism and its role in functioning democracies and wider society have been insightful, illuminating and invigorating. I cannot recommend this initiative enough. ”

“The Young Journalist Ireland programme is brilliant for Transition Year students as it offers the opportunity to discuss many contemporary issues regarding media and news consumption. Students were given the freedom to enter the national competition under several different categories, from sports journalism to photojournalism, ensuring that there was plenty of scope for them to choose which suited them best. The resources were well planned and easily downloaded. I would definitely encourage schools to give it a go! ”