FAQs

The Young Journalist Ireland programme ( previously Press Pass) is a student Journalism and News Literacy programme for Transition Year students. The programme is designed to improve news literacy and critical thinking skills among young people. It also fosters a deeper understanding of the role journalism plays in shaping how we see the world. Through engaging, real-world resources and hands-on learning, students develop essential communication and analysis skills that benefit them both inside and outside the classroom.

News Literacy is the ability to determine the credibility of news and other information and to recognise the standards of fact-based journalism to know what to trust, share and act on.

The aim of the Young Journalist Ireland programme is to teach students to think like journalists while building their confidence, communication, and news literacy skills through hands-on activities such as writing articles, conducting interviews, and researching facts. This empowers them to express their views constructively, evaluate information critically, and engage in public discourse with insight and integrity.

Over a set period between November and May every year, registered schools receive access to free resources including a Teacher’s Lesson Plan, Student Workbook, and access to news websites and award winning journalism. Students are encouraged to engage with the newspapers and online journalism in the classroom, to analyse the content and then to create their own original journalism, the best of which is entered into a national competition. Through Young Journalist Ireland, students become familiar with a variety of language types (information, argument, narration, persuasion) that they will encounter during the Leaving Certificate English programme. Students also learn to analyse content and are asked to think and form opinions about important social issues.

September 2026: Young Journalist Ireland programme opens for registration. Further dates relating to the competition will be be announced in due course.

Young Journalist Ireland is a free programme

One of the standout features of the programme is the annual Young Journalist of the Year Competition, where students submit original work in categories such as Opinion Writing, Features Journalism, Sports Journalism, Podcast, Photojournalism, and School Newspaper. Submissions are reviewed by a panel of award-winning journalists and editors, offering students a unique opportunity to gain recognition for their work and insights from professionals in the field

The use of AI-generated content is NOT permitted in competition entries. The aim of this competition is to recognise and celebrate original work. Any entry that includes AI-generated text will be disqualified. Each teacher who enters their students work is responsible for ensuring that AI has not been used.