Little Reporters on the write track
CALLING all budding journalists — it’s time to dust down the notebooks, cameras and microphones.
To celebrate Bus and Train Week 2017, Translink and the Belfast Telegraph are challenging Key Stage 2 classes across Northern Ireland to become Little Reporters, trying out their skills by producing news reports for our real life audience.
Translink wants Primary 5, 6 and 7 classes to produce articles, photographs or videos to share with Belfast Telegraph readers which will tell them why public transport is so important to the people of Northern Ireland and why we should all get on board.
The winning class will receive a wonderful school trip — as well as a masterclass in journalism and news from an award-winning journalist.
To top it off, their work will be published in the Belfast Telegraph for all our readers to see.
Chris Conway, Translink group chief executive, said: “I am delighted to launch our Little Reporters competition in association with the Belfast Telegraph.
“On June 5, Bus and Train Week is back — a seven-day celebration of public transport and we want young people from Primary 5 to Primary 7 to step into the shoes of journalists, reporting on why we should all get onboard our buses and trains.
“News is more accessible than ever and we are becoming increasingly tech savvy, therefore submissions can take the form of a written or video news article, supported with photography or all of the above.
“Entries should focus on one or more of Translink’s six key Bus + Train Week themes including the economy, education, tourism, health, social inclusion and the environment.
“We know how much work it takes to put together a great news story — from thorough research to writing eye-catching headlines and the importance of capturing great pictures and videos.
“We can’t wait to see what the young people create and reward them for their brilliant efforts!”
Darwin Templeton, managing editor of Independent News & Media NI, is delighted to be encouraging young people to get involved in journalism.
He said: “Not only is this a fantastic opportunity for classes to get creative with their writing, it is a chance for them to work as a team to produce inspiring, investigative content in the same way we do in the newsroom. We can’t wait to see what big exclusives our budding journalists bring us!”