Courageous Cork student wins national journalism award 

A feature article giving an account of a “courageous and deeply personal journey through scoliosis diagnosis, surgery, and recovery” has won a Youghal secondary school student the title of Overall Student Journalist of the Year at this year’s Young Journalist Ireland Awards, the winners of which were announced in the Aviva Stadium this week.

Grace Callaghan, from Pobalscoil na Tríonóide, was among several prize winners from schools across Cork at the prizegiving ceremony for the awards, which are organised by NewsBrands Ireland, the representative organisation for the country’s national news media industry.

'Evocative piece'

According to judging panel chairman, Sunday Business Post editor Daniel McConnell, Grace’s article demonstrated her ability “to write a truly evocative piece about wrestling with preconceptions around body image and seeing scars, not as imperfections, but as symbols of resilience in the face of adversity”.

The Pobalscoil na Tríonóide student demonstrated her versatility by also winning third place in the photojournalism category. Now in its 13th year and formerly known as Press Pass, the Young Journalist Ireland programme reaches more than 10,000 transition year students annually. 

Literacy skills

The initiative is designed to build media literacy skills, foster critical thinking, and inspire the next generation of journalists. Students learn to assess sources, identify misinformation, and create their own journalism, guided by professional journalists and editors.

Other Cork winners included the team that produced The Christians Chronicle at CBS Cork which won the first prize in the school newspaper category. The publication was described by judges as standing out for its “impressive breadth of content”.

Jessica Murphy, of St Mary’s Secondary School in Macroom, won the first prize in the sports journalism category with her piece on male dominance at the highest levels of equestrian sport, while Rachel Murphy from the same school won third prize in the features section with her account of the week she spent without her mobile phone.

Eimear Carey, of St Aloysius’ School in Carrigtwohill, won second prize in the photojournalism category, while Ava Ashman from Pobalscoil na Tríonóide secured third place in the sports journalism category.