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Discover, Write, Inspire: Be a Youth Reporter

The 2024 Canadian Forces Newspapers Youth Reporter Competition is your chance to share your unique voice and experiences.

Whether it’s in print, online, or on social media, your story matters. Winners from four categories will receive a $1000 scholarship and a personalized mentorship with expert journalists. This is your opportunity to learn, grow, and make an impact.  Submit your written story by November 17, 2024, and let your words inspire others!

This year, we are excited to introduce two special writing categories! Inspired by CareerCOACH+, which offers virtual and confidential career coaching to support military spouses/partners with employment transitions, Beyond the Base focuses on spousal employment stories. Additionally, thanks to our sponsor Fay Maddison, author and creator of Natasha’s Wood, we present Narrative Journeys. This category encourages creativity and storytelling, offering a platform for youth to explore their imaginations.


Eligibility

Youth from military families between 13 and 18.

  • Families of Regular Force Members
  • Families of Reserve Force Members
  • Families of Veterans
  • Families of the Deceased
  • Cadets
  • Junior Canadian Rangers


Key Dates

  1. Application Deadline:  Opens October 9 – November 17, 2024
  2. Selection Committee Results: December 2, 2024
  3. Mentorships & edited submissions: December 30, 2024
  4. Articles, blogs and videos published: January 20, 2025

4 Topic Themes

  • Beyond the Base: Career Stories of Non-Military Parents
    Beyond the Base: Career Stories of Non-Military Parents invites teens to interview civilian parents who are part of military families, highlighting their employment journeys, challenges, and successes. We encourage stories that explore how these parents navigate job opportunities, career changes due to frequent relocations, or the support they receive from military resources. Teens can also uncover how civilian careers fit into the military family dynamic, how their parents overcome employment barriers, and how they balance work with family life in this unique environment. 
  • ​​​​​​​My Military Life
    My Military Life offers teens the chance to share their unique experiences growing up in a military family, being a Cadet, or living with a veteran. We’re looking for stories that reflect the challenges and rewards of military life—whether it's adapting to frequent moves, dealing with parental deployments, or finding strength in the community. Teens can also share their own experiences in the Canadian Cadet/Ranger Program or the lessons they’ve learned from veterans in their lives. This category is all about resilience, growth, and identity shaped by military connections. 
  • Mind, Body, Community: Thriving Together
    Mind, Body, Community: Thriving Together invites teens to explore stories of health, wellness, and community impact. We're looking for narratives about personal wellness journeys, inspiring individuals who champion healthy living, or community programs that foster mental and physical well-being. Teens can share how wellness practices—such as fitness, mindfulness, or nutrition—have made a difference in their lives, or highlight a local initiative making an impact on health and community engagement. This category celebrates resilience, growth, and the power of thriving together through well-being and support.
  • Narrative Journeys: Write Your World
    The Narrative Journeys: Write Your World category encourages teens to unleash their creativity and express themselves through storytelling. Whether it’s fiction, personal essays, or imaginative worlds, this category allows young writers to explore themes of identity, growth, and connection. We invite submissions that reflect unique perspectives and original narratives, offering teens a space to discover the power of their voice through writing.