What is the Empower Journalists Program?
The Empower Journalists Program is the realisation of a dream that was shared by Ananya Singh, our young reader, over two years ago. She wrote to us that she would like to write features for the paper. She wrote some brilliant ones. There were other readers too, sending awesome original writing.
Slowly, we woke up to the ambition and ability of our children.
The program selects students, then trains them on journalism. After that, they write news and features that are published on this website.
Over the last three batches, the children have found time to bond, learn, get published, and earn work certificates.
Internship or participation certificates indicate a short-term engagement. But a work certificate as a published journalist with a real news website is just something else.
In short, The Empower Journalists Program is a program which gives a peek into the world of journalism, and is open to students who are 10-18 years old. Students get trained and then write as real journalists for the website. They get a Work Certificate at the end of the program.
This is the FOURTH batch of the program.
What does it offer?
The program includes:
A. A training on journalism which includes writing, photojournalism, research, public speaking, interviewing skills, etc.
B. Six Weeks of mentoring by EJs of previous batches, as they guide each EJ 1:1 on research, presentation, review, and time management.
The training has weekly assignments and a final submission. A minimum score in each weekly assignment and 6 out of 10 in the final assignment is required to graduate and start writing.
C. Opportunity to do actual news report writing and see your name on the website. Create a digital footprint for all internship selectors and college admission councils.
D. Opportunity to do awesome interviews and write research-based features.
E. An experience certificate for journalism at the completion of the program.
F. Opportunity to mentor the subsequent batches.
What is it like to be an EJ?
The best way to understand this awesome experience is from the earlier EJs:
Who is it ideal for?
All children who like to write, report, and express themselves.
Older students considering journalism as a potential career option will definitely benefit in a more tangible way. But all students will learn to structure their thoughts and write coherent reports. That is an important professional skill.
Who can be part of the program?
Any English-speaking student, whether homeschooled or in formal school, can be a part of the program, if they are between between the ages of 10-18 (last completed year as on March 1, 2023).
International students (students not based in India) are welcome to apply. The training timings are in IST and they may need to check if that works. Usually, we find that regions from Sydney to Europe work very well because our program timings are within their day hours. Since all modules are held on the weekend, there is no issue.
What are the charges?
The registration fee is 1000 rs.
After that, there are no charges. No processing fee, no training fee, no certification fee, no exam fee, nothing.
We bear all the expenses, including the expenses for the training and examination of all selected students.
Selection is based entirely on the aptitude of the child.
What all will the training cover?
The training has the following modules:
- Understanding Journalism
- The Anatomy of Bias – Understanding our own biases and the biases around us
- How to Review – Grammar, Structure, Bias elimination
- How to select news for kids
- Research and Writing – How to research and then simplify a topic – this session will be taken by Aditi and Ananya, two of oure existing EJs.
- Photo journalism – Good photography
- Taking interviews
- News Journalism – Writing news on contentious issues
- Research for news journalism – how we ensure that we find, and present all the pertinent perspectives
- Saying No to a story
- A guided session where the current EJs help you write a news story for real.
- AMA – Ask Me Anything with the EJs – Think of this as a fresher party into the EJs AND a chance to ask any questions that you may have about any topic covered so far.
We are trying to revamp the training for this batch, based on the feedback from the previous batches. So, the final training may be slightly different from what is posted here.
Great! How do I join?
You can register here. After registration, you will receive an email with the Editorial Guidelines of The Children’s Post, and details about the form.
Please budget for about 40-50 minutes to fill up the form.
You can fill it up any time before 5th April in a single slot of 40-50 minutes.
Important Dates
Entries Open: 12th March 2023
Entries Close: 5th April 2023
Results: 10th April 2023
FAQs
- I love the training. Can I just join the training please?
Yes! Many parents and students have asked for this in the last two years, so you CAN join only for the training. The training fee is 10,000 per student. This includes the training, examination, and certification fee – all combined, and taxes included. The Training ONLY session will be up to the 11th module listed above. The 12th module is only for EJs joining the writing.
You will get a participation certificate if you do not clear the assignments, and an achievement certificate if you pass the program assignments.
There is no selection if you want to just attend the training. You can go straight to the training. The training will be held along with the EJ batch.
To pay the training fee to register only for the training, please click here.
2. When will the trainings be held?
The trainings are likely to begin in the first week of May. It will depend on the exam schedule of all the selected EJs.
3. When do we start writing for the website?
By July 1st, you should be a real journalist, writing for the website.
4. How much time will an EJ have to devote to this activity?
During training, about 3-4 hours per week. 2 of these hours have to be on the weekend, and the other 2 hours at your convenience.
Once you are an EJ, it is 1-6 hours per week, depending on your interest and choice.
A research story can take up to 5-6 hours, while a regular news story is usually done in 1-2 hours, including review, grammar check, etc.
Would like to understand the charges and course little better. Please call at 9818440606