Social conscience wins for Young Readers

Winning entries from Asia, India and the world in WAN-Ifra's World Young Reader Prize are notable for their commitment to journalism, democracy and social conscience.

The top News Publisher of the Year award went to Indonesia's Kompas Daily (right) for a multimedia-based programme aimed at reaching a young audience and helping them become more active in society.

Experimenting with social media, Kompas managed to "do it all" in engaging the young, providing a quality platform where their voices could be heard while they learn the difference between professional journalism and other 'content' by doing it themselves," judges agreed. "They also do a great deal to encourage active citizenship, especially by adding some fun."

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (on our homepage) was also praised for an initiative in which young reporters took to the streets during the Occupy Central campaign, using Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp. Followers on Twitter and Instagram increased by more than double and some measure of its success was that their efforts gathered enough attention and publicity to be blocked on mainland China. "A good example of not only giving youth a voice in a highly political situation but also of how all media today need to report major new events... bursts the myth that young people are not interested in serious news stories," judges said.

French news media have been awarded a World Young Reader Prize for their "extraordinary, collective work in helping young people understand the Charlie Hebdo attacks and their implications", WAN-Ifra announced Monday.

"French society was traumatized by the horrific events of January 7, especially the country's youth," said Aralynn McMane, WAN-Ifra's executive director for youth engagement. "France's news media did an exceptional job in helping young people deal with their trauma and fear and, critically, to understand the importance of freedom of expression."

In the region, Youth Ki Awaaz (India) won the top enduring excellence award, with the Philippine Daily Inquirer (for its Junior Snoops youth journalism initiative) taking silver.

United Daily News (Taiwan) gained a special mention in News in Education for its News Buzzer game.

Silver awards in the public service category went to India's Mathrubhumi (for Nanma volunteering initiative) and Malayala Manorama (for School Harvest Project) and Singapore Press Holdings for Idea Jam.

Other awards honoured the full range of actions publishers can take to engage the young, starting with the key work of assuring this new generation understands and appreciates the role of journalism in guarding free expression. Prizes were awarded in seven categories: teaching freedom, digital first, brand, editorial, enduring excellence, news in education and public service.

Awards are to be made in a ceremony on September 3 in Mumbai, India, during the WAN-Ifra India conference, which will include a session on strategies for youth engagement.