Eco-Schools New Program: Young Reporters for the Environment (Ages 11-21)

The goal of YRE is for participants, aged 11-21, to investigate environmental issues and problems and report on them through written, photographic or video journalism, while investigating solutions.  YRE develops participants’ skills and knowledge. For example, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of sustainable development, the programme enhances communication and citizenship skills, individual initiative, team work, critical analysis, social responsibility and leadership.

Objectives: Investigate, Propose Solutions, Report

1. Investigate a local environmental problem or issue:

• Identify, define and communicate a local environmental problem and/or issue
• Investigate (look up, compare, interpret, evaluate) relevant information from primary and secondary sources
• Identify key individuals and groups and find out what their different perspectives on the issue are, their approaches to resolving it and their assumptions and goals
• Conduct original research, such as surveys/questionnaires, and interview key individuals or groups to obtain first-hand information
• Cover relevant historical, economic, social and/or political implications and possible consequences of the problem or issue
• Link the local environmental problem and/or issue to the bigger global picture (problem)

2. Propose solutions to a local environmental problem or issue:

• Identify a possible solution to an environmental problem and/or issue and evaluate its likely effectiveness, giving reasons for and against (pros and cons)
• Develop and propose a solution and justify it

3. Report on a local environmental issue and its possible solution through a journalistic production targeting a local audience:

• Identify your target audience and choose the best way to reach and communicate with them, i.e. which media do they read/watch/listen to?
• Plan how you will report on the problem and/or issue (who need to be informed? how? when?) and use the appropriate journalistic format and style
• Create an article, photograph, photographic essay of up to 12 photographs, or video that documents the environmental problem and/or issue; where possible you should suggest a solution
• Take a positive approach to inspiring change and finding a solution
• Share (disseminate) your work to a local audience through the media, e.g. newspaper, magazine, radio, television, social media, exhibition, film show, local events, etc.