Next year sees the launch of the Australian Catholics’ Young Voices Award, which offers students a chance to advocate on different topics and projects.
Australian Catholics’ editor Michael McVeigh said the award has been adapted from the long-running Young Journalists Award (YJA).
‘Many thousands of students have taken part in the Young Journalist Award since it was launched in the 1990s. However the world has changed enormously in that time. It’s no longer only journalists who have the ability to have their voices heard around the world.
‘The Young Voices Award aims to encourage more young people to consider how they might use the tools and platforms now available to them to make a difference in the world.
‘We’ll still be looking for powerful and compelling works, but we won’t be restricting the style of entries to ‘journalistic’ pieces – other communications styles such as personal reflections and informative pieces will also be eligible.
‘We hope by broadening the scope of the entries, we might encourage more teachers to consider how they can incorporate the award into their lesson plans.’
These projects can be written, photographic or in podcast form.
‘As well as the junior (Years 5 and 6), and intermediate (Years 7-9) sections, for 2021 we are also opening up the award to senior students – Years 10-12.’
Detailed information on the Young Voices Award will be available online through the Catholic Teacher newsletter next year and there will be a feature in the Australian Catholics autumn edition.
Entries for the award close at 5pm, Friday, 28 May 2021.
For more information on the 2020 YJA competition and winners, see the article Celebrations all around.
Media internship 2021
Year 10 or 11 students interested in a career in media or publishing will have the opportunity to take part in the media internship program from 10-14 May 2021. Students based in Melbourne have the opportunity to join our editorial team in our offices, while those from regional Victoria and interstate can join us remotely via phone or videoconferencing.
‘We will have more information on the media internship program next year’, Mr McVeigh said.