Young Reporters for the Environment 2026-2027 Applications Now Open

Published: Monday 21 September 2026 - 16:05

TU Dublin students with an interest in sustainability, storytelling, journalism, photography, video creation or podcasting are invited to take part in the Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) Programme 2026-2027.

Delivered by An Taisce as part of the international YRE network, the programme empowers young people to investigate environmental issues, develop solutions-focused stories, and share their work through a range of media formats. Participants gain access to journalism resources, online training courses from the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), and a series of lunchtime webinars led by experienced journalists and environmental communicators.

The YRE programme complements work being delivered by the Green Campus Network at TU Dublin, and supports objectives of the An Taisce Climate Ambassador programme.

The first webinar, "How to Write a Compelling Story", will take place during Climate Action Week on 15 October from 1.00pm to 2.00pm. The session will be delivered by Sylvia Thompson, Features Writer with The Irish Times, whose work covers environmental, scientific, health and heritage topics.

This Year's Theme

"Small Worlds, Big Futures: Reporting from a Pollinator-Powered 2030"

Students are encouraged to explore questions such as:

What should be normal by 2030 in the places where we learn, travel, gather and connect?
What changes are needed now to help pollinators thrive and support people living in balance with nature?

While this year's theme focuses on pollinators, participants are also welcome to submit reports on any Green-Campus theme or UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

Why Get Involved?

YRE aligns particularly well with Green-Campus Step 6: Informing and Involving, providing students with an opportunity to:

Investigate environmental issues affecting their communities
Develop journalism, communication and media skills
Create articles, photo essays, videos or podcasts
Raise awareness through an international platform
Build their portfolio and gain real-world reporting experience

Participants will also receive access to a free media literacy resource.

Awards and Recognition

Shortlisted students will be invited to attend the National YRE Awards Ceremony in May 2027, where winners will share a prize fund of more than €2,000.

Successful entrants may also:

Represent Ireland at the international YRE competition
Report on An Taisce events
Be published on YRE and An Taisce platforms
Gain regional, national and international recognition for their work

Students looking for inspiration can explore previous winning and shortlisted entries through the YRE Ireland and international virtual galleries.

Get Involved

Students interested in participating are encouraged to register for the programme and begin developing ideas for environmental stories that can inspire positive change.

For further information, contact yre@antaisce.org.