Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is an international program that engages youth in environmental journalism in more than 25 countries around the world. The program is coordinated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
Young Reporters investigate environmental and sustainability issues and propose solutions through written, photographic and video journalism. Participants submit their work to a national competition for judging. Each country then sends its top article, photograph and video in each age category to an international competition, where additional honors are awarded.
In the United States, YRE is hosted by the National Wildlife Federation. Students between the ages of 13 and 21 are invited to participate. Entries must be relevant to participants’ local community, connect to a global perspective, include possible solutions, and be disseminated to an appropriate target audience. YRE-USA aims to make a valuable contribution to environmental journalism by helping youth develop their interest and skills in this important field, challenging them to play a key role in informing the public about critical environmental issues and their solutions.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION (NWF)
For more than 75 years, the National Wildlife Federation has been educating people about the environment. NWF’s education efforts annually engage over 7,000 K-12 schools and nearly 5 million students through programs including Eco-Schools USA, Schoolyard Habitats, Be Out There, and Trees for Wildlife. NWF also publishes the children’s magazines Ranger Rick and its companion for younger children, Ranger Rick Jr. These magazines have introduced generations of young people to the wonders of wildlife and nature, fostering a lifetime commitment to environmental protection. On this foundation, NWF is delighted to build a new opportunity to engage youth with the environment through journalism.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION (FEE)
The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization promoting sustainable development through environmental education. As an international umbrella organization, FEE has member organizations in more than 60 countries worldwide. One member organization per country represents FEE on the national level and is in charge of implementing FEE programs nationally.
Since 1981, FEE has actively promoted and delivered environmental education through international programs which aim to deliver Agenda 21 commitments and involve people of all ages and nationalities through formal school education, training of staff and raising environmental awareness among the general public.
FEE’s five environmental education programs are Blue Flag, Green Key, Eco-Schools, Learning about Forests (LEAF) and Young Reporters for the Environment.
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© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
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