The Columban Schools Journalism competition is in its third year and the title for 2020 is “Tackling our Throwaway Culture”.

“You never get used to it, and you can feel your heart and soul hurting.”

Students aged 15 to 18 are invited to write an article or make a video report on the topic: ‘The Challenge of Climate Change’.

“It is very clear that good journalism really does matter. Social media has opened the doors to so-called ‘fake news’, widespread anonymous comment, and a scarcity of thoroughly researched news stories.”

As part of the Columban Centenary (1918-2018) celebrations, students aged between 15-18 were invited to write an article or make a video on the theme ‘Migrants are our Neighbours’.

The objective of the competition is to encourage students to use their writing and mobile skills to look at a topical issue which is relevant to Catholic Social Teaching and resonates with Columban mission.

Speakers at a conference organised by Cleraun Study Centre will include Carol Leonnig, who won a public service Pulitzer Prize in 2014 as a member of a team that released the ‘Snowden Papers’.

Church needs a media “that is not afraid to expose mistakes and failures."