ALL the island’s primary school children are invited to test their journalistic skills in this year’s Junior Journalist Competition.
The winning reports and pictures of Junior Journalist of the Year 2012 will be published and the winning entry in each year group will be awarded a trophy and book tokens.
The overall winner of the competition will win £150 for their school, a shield for their school to keep for a year, a trophy and book tokens.
Last year’s winner was 11-year-old Robert Harding, of Marown School, who wrote about his family’s connection to the Summerland disaster.
This Isle of Man Newspapers’ competition, sponsored by egaming company Celton Manx, really allows children to explore their creativity and communication skills.
Celton Manx executive director Bill Mummery said: ‘Junior Journalist of the Year is one of the most rewarding sponsorships we are involved with. It provides a fantastic opportunity for children to develop their writing skills. The subjects included in the briefs this year will really spark their imaginations. I am very much looking forward to the prize presentation.’
Six different competition briefs, one for each school year, are set out by the Department of Education and Children in line with the national literacy strategy and the Manx history curriculum.
Topics include finding about a famous person that lived in the past, imagining themselves as a magician and helping to create a holiday website to promote the Isle of Man.
Each school will receive information packs on how to enter.
All entries must be received by March 30 and judging will take place in the week starting April 2.
A panel of judges will select the winners who will be contacted at school.
There will be a prize presentation at Ballerkermeen High School’s Studio Theatre on May 15.
