LAUREATES
This award honors those who excel at the task of making sure the young learn how and why journalism is a good thing to have around and also ensure they understand the dangers and threats some people face just to do that job.
Together, these laureates are helping create a generation with a reduced tendency to suffer from civic cynicism and a greater chance to give a damn about justice for journalists.
The award has served for two editions now as the news/media literacy category of the Global Youth & News Media Prize. The next edition will be in 2025.
One of our first laureates, Janis Schachter, did two short videos with Special Adviser and laureate Dara Rosen to help educators get started in teaching both elements of the award:
🎥 On exploring the value of journalism via self-guided exploration of the threats to journalists [00:2:01]
🎥 On general approach to exploring the worth of journalism [00:03:34]
In this video she mentions this news blackout activity.
More activities here for introducing the concept of threats to journalists.
LATEST HONOREES
We are delighted to introduce you to our seven latest award-winning educators, news media and educational NGOS. Scroll down to learn more about them.
Our laureates were selected by a 15 member international jury of experts in news media, education and press freedom.
We chose the International Day of Democracy (15 September 2023) to announce these laureates to emphasize the role this work plays in keeping that form of government alive.
Case studies based on the work of Malaysia's The Fourth Academy and Indonesia's Muda Magangers were presented at the 2024 Southeast Asian Media Studies Association Conference in Kuala Lumpur. A write-up of those cases will appear in the association's journal.
GOLD LAUREATES
The Fourth Academy
Malaysia
News OrganizatIOn award ✯ GOLD
The Fourth Academy (Malaysia) - In a difficult environment, The Fourth, a small investigative journalism team, has created an educational programme for the young that focuses on teaching how to be impactful storytellers and on the threats to journalism specifically faced in Southeast Asia. Bonus : their excellent video about the state of press freedom in Southeast Asia.
COMMENTS From SOME JURORS
“The Fourth's submission really demonstrates the impact of the programme on why training young people in journalism is vital but also demonstrating the profession's role in holding power to account.” - Margaret Holborn (UK)
“The program immediately and clearly explains the importance of a free press for democratic governance and social justice. The Fourth has a wide array of published stories to illustrate the impact of its work. It is clearly aware of the challenges faced by journalists in Malaysia, where press freedom is often constrained.” - Robert Mahoney (USA)
BONUS - An excellent video overview about the state of press freedom in the region.
Joyce Grant
Canada
Educator award✯GOLD
As a journalist, children’s author, classroom speaker, and professor, Joyce Grant has worked to educate young people on identifying misinformation, the importance of journalism to democracy, and the dangers to journalists today.
She received a gold award
for her work.
“Joyce's level of engagement is remarkable, and her creativity, as well as the diverse teaching approaches she employs to educate children about news, is truly commendable.” - Lamia Rassi (Lebanon)
“Joyce’s work is very important since we know that the defense of freedom of the press, quality journalism, the fight against disinformation and media education are some of the actions that strengthen a democracy.” - Dr. Cristiane Parente (Brazil, Portugal)
Jackie Majerus
USA
Educator award✯gold
Jackie Majerus has supported journalism by secondary students for three decades through Youth Journalism International, which she founded in 1994, She has raised awareness about press freedom, the role of journalism in civic society, and the dangers to journalists.
She received a gold award
for her work.
THE FULL STORY
“Jackie is an amazing mentor and educator working on behalf of global democracy. Her work fostering global press freedoms and empowering youth through journalistic principles is worthy of this year’s Press Freedom Teaching Award.” - Barbara McCormack (USA)
“Impressive global reach and archive, with demonstrated focus on teaching the threats/dangers that journalists face and the value of a free press since 1994.” - Joyce Yang (France)
SILVEr LAUreATES
Out of the Box
Philippines
educational NGO award ✯ silver
Out of The Box creates educational tools to promote media literacy, counter disinformation, and teach about press freedom rights. Since 2020, Out of The Box has advocated for media literacy and reached over 10,000 students and 5,000 educators. Its free #MIL4Democracy handbook has seen nearly 10,000 downloads.
“So impressed by this outreach to teachers, as they have exponentially increased the number of students they can reach.As a teacher myself, I appreciate the way they pivoted during the covid pandemic, and figured out how to continue their outreach.” - Janis Schachter (USA)
“A great project, with creative actions, many partners, a great reach and the intelligence to work on several fronts such as handbook production, courses, games, campaigns and Global Week MIL inviting the public to participate.”
- Dr. Cristiane Parente (Brazil, Portugal)
Muda Magangers
Indonesia
news media award ✯ silver
Muda Magangers (Indonesia) - Since 2009, Kompas Media has been educating thousands of secondary school students about the value of journalism and news media through its Muda Magangers program. The program invites young people to participate in the Kompas Muda internship selection program. Participants also receive training in journalism skills including reporting, graphic design, photography/videography, and brand activation.
“A great intern programme with training in journalism. It makes participants aware of the dangers of journalism through engaging them with the Di Balik Berita platform.” - Margaret Holborn (UK)
“Whether or not these students go on to pursue degrees in journalism, they will walk away with a better understanding and appreciation for the power of a free press and the dangers faced reporting the news.” - Barbara McCormack (USA)
COMMUNITY LAUReATES
Teens for Press Freedom
USA
EDUCATIONAL NGO award ✯ COMMUNITY
Teens for Press Freedom (USA) - Teens for Press Freedom facilitates discussions about the importance of media literacy and press freedom through virtual workshops conceived and organized by its members. It shows promise to become a truly powerful community of citizens who understand the ‘why’ of press freedom
"Considering USA´s highly polarized environment, I particularly commend their commitment to encourage discussions that transcends party lines to talk about issues relating to free expression and media literacy.” - Wendy Tribaldos (Panama)
“Teens for Press Freedom is an excellent weekly online forum that civically engages teens in a thoughtful, non-partisan environment.” - Bo Brusco (USA)
JTA Teen Journalism Fellowship
USA
NEWS MEDIA AWARD ✯ COMMUNITY
JTA Teen Journalism Fellowship (USA) - This fellowship for Jewish teenagers was started by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency to add to their coverage on Jewish teenagers and create a pipeline of future journalists. The fellowship focuses on teaching about antisemitism in the media and press freedom for journalists in the US and in Israel. This approach can be adapted elsewhere for other communities.
Katina Paron, who has made helping teenage journalists the focus of her career, is the driving force behind the fellowship. She is author of the Newshound's Guide to Student Journalism and, most recently, the curriculum developer for New York City's program to give more students the experience of being a journalist. Here's a an interview with her about teaching the worth of journalism [00:12:10].
COMMENTS From SOME JURORS
”A timely new initiative that is much needed focusing on diversity of youth voices as anti-semitism is on the rise.” - Josh LaPorte (Belgium)
“The JTA Teen Journalism Fellowship is a very inspirational niche project with a global dimension. Apart from putting Jewish high school students in touch, it can motivate them to become journalists, which is key to the future of Jewish media publications in several countries.” - Vitor Tomé (Portugal).
THE FOLLOW-UP
— The first installment of our Laureate Interview Series features one of our first honorees, Janice Schachter, talking about how to get started in teaching adolescents about threats to journalists in a session produced by intern Dara Rosen. [00:02:01]. In a second interview, Janice Schachter talks about how to introduce the topic of the worth of journalists [00:03:34]
— The cases from Indonesia and Malaysia were featured at the Southeast Asian Media Studies Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (29 February to 2 March 2024). Presenters were Samantha Chow (The Fourth Academy of Malaysia), Tarrence Palar (Harian Kompas of Indonesia), Tanish Tanjil (Nexis International School Malaysia) and, in absentia, Dr. Aralynn McMane (Global Youth & News Media in France)
—Jackie Majerus, a 2023 honoree, was interviewed by the Sun Journal (Lewiston, Maine, USA)
—Teens for Press Freedom focused one of its weekly webinars on threats to journalists, specifically imprisoned journalist/activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi of Iran. Here is a video with some of the highlights [00:02:16].
LEARN ABOUT THE
PREVIOUS LAUREATES
Teachers from Bolivia, the United States and Nigeria were honored in the inaugural version of this award in 2021, given in memory of Scott Schurz, who we lost that year. Scott was a leader in local journalism and longtime advocate of global press freedom and newsroom actions supporting youth.
THE FULL STORY
