THOUSANDS of school pupils have successfully completed a special eight-week media project led by the Irish News.
The Irish News Young News Readers is aimed at 8-14-year-olds (Key stages 2 and 3), providing teachers with eight weeks of ready-to-go literacy content and a weekly edition newspaper.
Around 6,000 children took part this year from across Ireland, England, Spain and Dubai.
Each edition centred on a different theme relevant to the lives of students that helped to create discussion in the classrooms, from wellbeing to the environment, fitness and body positivity as well as social media, diversity and inclusion and 'Future Me'.
The wide-ranging articles covered everything from the visit of US President Joe Biden, to interviews with local Olympic athletes, Ukranian refugees and Belfast Oscar winner James Martin.
Other stories included the inspiring journey of Belfast boy Dáithí Mac Gabhann who helped to change the law on organ donation and the Bafta winning writer of Derry Girls, Lisa McGee.
Marking the last week of this year's project, the Irish News' Young News Reader team visited St Paul's High School in Bessbrook.
The topic 'Future Me,' saw pupils learning about the world of opportunities that are out there for young people, with Year 8 pupils receiving a one-hour workshop from Guest Editor, Annette Kelly.
The sponsors for this year's project include: EY, Fujitsu, Exploris NI and St Mary’s University College Belfast.
