We had a wide variety of excellent entries in the
YRE 2026 National Competition!
Young Reporters
for the Environment
Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is an environment-focused community journalism program offered to Schools, Youth Groups or Individuals aged 11-25.
The YRE programme allows students to use a variety of Media Tools to engage their audience about local environmental topics whilst building Constructive Journalism and Investigative skills.
YRE Journalism Competition
Young Reporters for the Environment holds an annual International Competition for young people aged 11-25 involved in the programme. The purpose of the competition is for young people to investigate environmental issues, propose solutions, report it through various communication and journalistic ways to a local network and raise awareness by sharing it with an international community.
Any student in Bermuda between the ages of 11-25 can submit entries to the National Competition by April 16. The National Operator and professional journalist judges will determine the winners in each category- and the top scoring entries will be sent into the International Competition!
The 2026’s theme: Food Security & Climate Change
The YRE International competition takes place annually and each year has a different thematic focus. This edition 2025-2026 is centered around the theme of food security & climate change. Food systems are deeply impacted by climate change.
Addressing food security is essential for achieving:
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SDG2 Zero Hunger,
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SDG3 Food Health and Wellbeing,
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SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
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SDG 13 Climate Action.
Food connects us all. This theme aims to inspire young reporters to explore the behind-the-scenes of food systems around the world.
The History of YRE
YRE gives young people aged 11-25 a platform to research environmental issues and promote solutions through investigative reporting, photography, and video journalism. The programme develops participants’ skills and knowledge about the environment, enhances communication and citizenship skills, individual initiative, teamwork, critical analysis, social responsibility, and leadership abilities.
Created by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), the YRE programme started when the depletion of the ozone layer was detected in the Polar Regions in 1985. In 1991 a scientific expeditions was launched to assess the extent of the problem and collect data. The first of these expeditions was to Kiruna in Sweden, Sodankyla and Utsjoki in Finland.
Philippe Saugier, founded the Ozone Project, which sent three youth missions to the north to follow, monitor, and report on the work of scientists. This series of field visits and expert interviews attempted to fully understand the ozone issue, and to report it to the widest possible audience in real time. Germany, Denmark, Finland, France, Latvia, Norway, Poland, and Switzerland were the first to send “youth envoys”.
Although this was 25-years ago, technology wasn’t as advanced and this task had proven difficult. In Denmark, the University of Copenhagen quickly became the focal point for the international communication between the youth envoys and the local teams.
When the project was taken over by FEE, then the Foundation for the Environmental Education in Europe (FEEE), the last step to create Young Reporters for the Environment had finally been taken. In 1994, Luxembourg would become the first country to officially implement the YRE programme. The program now operates in 44 different countries with 450,000+ students and that number is growing.
BUEI is proud to be able to offer YRE to the community of Bermuda! Stay tune to find out how YRE Bermuda will be implemented!
Competitions
YRE Bermuda hosts a national competition annually for students aged 11-25 in three main categories: Written Article, Photography and Video. All submissions are presented to a jury and winners enter the international competition. Bermuda has been represented on the international stage for the past two years!
YRE is in 37 countries with 220,000+ Young Reporters!
YRE Media Tools:
Written Articles
In today’s world, written media extends far beyond traditional print newspapers, embracing a wide range of digital platforms such as online news sites, blogs, and social media. This evolution opens up exciting opportunities for young reporters in our program to make their mark. By using platforms like Facebook and Instagram, you can help extend the reach of written articles and news stories and engage a wider audience.
Photography
Photo journalism uses the power of imagery to raise awareness and inspire action on environmental and climate issues. Discover the various ways you can captivate an audience and make an impact through the lens of your camera… or your phone!
Videography
Video format is the primary way youth consume news and learn about environmental issues. This can be through long-form content like documentaries, YouTube segments, and TV news reports, or short-form content on social media like Instagram Reels and TikToks.
Podcast Journalism
Learning to podcast strengthens young reporters’ media and communication skills and allows to connect on a more nuanced and personal level with people affected by environmental issues in their community as well as with people who have in-depth environmental knowledge.
4-Step Methodology
The YRE Programme provides a 4-Step Methedology. Steps are listed below or findout more about each step on the YRE Global webpage by clicking the button below.
Step 1 - Investigate
- Identify and define a local environmental issue.
- Conduct original research.
- Cover relevant implications.
- Link the local environmental issue to the bigger global picture.
Step 2 - Research Solution
- Identify possible solutions and evaluate pros and cons.
- The solutions presented have to be thoroughly explained, well argued and justified.
Step 3 - Report
- Identify your target audience and choose the best way to reach and communicate with them.
- Plan how you will report on the issue and use the appropriate journalistic format and style.
- Use your story-telling skills to create an article, photograph, or video. Take a positive approach to inspire!
Step 4 - Disseminate
- Share your work to a local audience!
- Consider what local media you picture your work in.
Dissemination Possibilities
- Social Media
- Print Media
- Your School
- The Radio
- Art Galleries
- News Networks
- Talk Shows
- YRE Global
Constructive Journalism
All participants must utilize the constructive journalism method in their creative works:
- Instead of revolving only around negative and conflict-based stories, constructive journalism is solution-based.
- Recognizes that faults, failure and abuse exist in the world. However, it maintains that simultaneously there is always development, growth and opportunity.
- Offers a fair, accurate and contextualized picture of the world.
- Express how change is possible and highlights the role each member of society must play to foster it.