My school, Trevor-Roberts, recently founded a journalism club and it has been well received by all the children.
The school newspapers have been in high demand for many of the parents and students of the school.
Teachers have observed how useful it is to have a journalism club, partly so that children who are interested in journalism have a chance to learn more about it, but also because it is such an important part of our world.
Our club has had me reflecting on the media and some issues in certain countries without free speech. So just how important is journalism? Why does it matter?
Freedom of speech is one of the fundamental British values. Sadly, there are some places in the world where the media is manipulated and there is no free speech, with the country's leadership oppressing many opinions.
It is essential that children in our country do not take for granted the freedom we have to voice an opinion. The free press, a term used to describe media outlets in countries that allow opinions to be voiced, is vital to ensure that important matters are brought to public attention and dealt with.
Children at our school are now learning how to use journalistic skills to inform other students about important world matters, in a non-biased way.
Writing for a newspaper from a small age can teach a certain sort of skill that can not be replicated in another way and it is so important that we educate the journalists of the next generation.
We hope that in the journalism club we inspire the even younger members of the school to try and develop these skills. It can be a skill that is overlooked by many children with some not recognising its significance until they reach adulthood, even though it plays such a monumental part of our 21st century world.
At Trevor-Roberts, we believe it is crucial that more is taught about media and free speech to younger people before they reach adulthood. Our journalism club is just one of the ways that we do this.
I hope that this article will encourage more journalism clubs in primary schools. You’re never too young!
- Dhillon is Year 8 pupil at Trevor Roberts School in Belsize Park (trevor-robertsschool.co.uk)
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