3rd December 2024
How Shine can boost your students’ careers
Hello everyone,
Last week I had a great time catching up with three past winners of the Shine School Media Awards. Each won in the last few years and I was really struck by the way they carry a pure enthusiasm for publishing.
That call to write, investigate and share is one that runs strong in all our entrants. I can’t help but wonder how many students you encounter in the classroom where it’s abundantly clear their talents mark them out as potentially incredible journalists or authors.
All they need is a vehicle for those talents: a school magazine does just that.
I’m so pleased to see these students continue their passion – here are their stories:
Aditya won our award for tomorrow’s talent in 2024. He revived a moribund school magazine, devising a clever marketing campaign that brought the entire project back to life. Our judges awarded him the prize for a ‘clear passion for journalism and a sense of initiative and integrity.’
Aashi also won our award for tomorrow’s talent, in 2023. She became editor of her school magazine, applying both infectious enthusiasm and a data-driven approach which accompanied her research and writing. Aashi is indeed ‘an original, truly impressive’ person who has gone on to edit a college magazine in her first year of university.
George won ‘best feature article’, writing about his transgender sister, in what judges called ‘a brave, worthwhile and honest piece of journalism.’ His writing gave a deeply personal insight into how it might feel to be the parent of a child who feels they have been born into the wrong body.
The work of these stellar students each helped these projects, usually guided by encouraging and inspiring teachers, often with minimal resources.
It’s been great maintaining our contact with our ‘Shine Award alumni’ and hearing about the difference winning made to them and their choices as they continue their education.
What’s fascinating is that finding success in their teenage years materially affects how young people approach applying to and tackling their next stages in life, offering them a tangible boost as the dreams of their futures become a reality.
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Even if your school magazine is at a planning or creative stage today, register with the Shine School Media Awards and we can provide guidance and encouragement from now til our entry deadline next May.
If you have any questions, message us direct – shine@stationers.org
Best wishes,
Richard Chapman
Chair, Shine School Media Awards