Raise your voice | South West Future Journalists Awards
Yes, young people have too much pressure and expectation and it feels like nobody listens to you. We get it and we want to help.
Share your voice, get published, and pocket some (not much) cash in the South West Future Journalists Awards. West Country Voices, Totnes Pulse and the PRSD have put their collective heads together to come up with an award for upcoming and established young journalists and reporters.
The topic is a Manifesto For Change.
We invite you to answer the question:
“with the world as you see it, what should those in power be doing right now?”
Write around 500 words or record up to five minutes of audio or two minutes of video – make it shareable, impactful, honest and authentic.
There are two age categories: Under 16, and 17-25, and your home must be in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset or Somerset.
The prizes are £50 for first place, £25 for second. Plus, you get to be published across all three titles, adding credibility to your words and amplifying your voice.
Send your submission to:
competition@westcountryvoices.co.uk
with the subject line: Devon Future Journalist, and include your details (age category) and why you have submitted what you have.
Please submit your entry in the following formats:
- text as Word document (.doc)
- audio as WAV or MP3
- video as an MP4.
We are assembling a panel of judges to include citizen journalists and campaigners who will pick the winners from a shortlist chosen by the editors of all three publications. Look out for news on the line-up.
Deadline for final submissions is midnight on Sunday 11 January 2026.
You will be informed on or by midnight Sunday 25 January. Top tip: make your message clear and accessible. Connect with people, speak to people and back up what you say with links or references – in this age of disinformation, evidence and/or expertise is always good.
A few rules:
- Don’t record people or events in secret – get permission.
- Be honest.
- And don’t trust AI
Your unique voice, insights, style and experience are key. Need tips? There are plenty of resources out there to help:
Start with: https://www.bbc.com/academy/learning-resources-for-journalism-students
Or drop us a line: info@totnespulse.co.uk