Annabel, 20
"I began my journey at Headliners as an interviewee. I sat in a room with a team of young journalists – some of whom had questioned Tony Blair for Sky News on the eve of the election - and was impressed by the opportunities they had. Age and your background weren’t relevant and they were trusted to do the stories independently.
I started attending and received peer induction training. Personal highlights include: having an opinion piece published in the Independent newspaper the day I received my AS level grades, interviewing the former Children’s Minister Margaret Hodge for Sky News, influencing government policy and delivering peer training.
I was privileged to work with staff journalists dedicated to quality journalism and youth participation and I’ve met many talented young people. I never realised what I could be and Headliners has helped to raise my aspirations - being a young person doesn’t mean that you can’t have a positive voice in the media. With all the skills I learnt I got the job as an uploader on Guardian Unlimited and am now the politics sub-editor – the youngest person to work on the site.
I was appointed a trustee of Headliners in 2006."
Aoife, 16
"I have been at Headliners for over two years now and it has been a huge learning experience for me. I first joined as a result of my friends’ interest in the project and I saw it as a great opportunity to improve my English skills.
However, I soon realised that Headliners had so much more to offer me. I’ve worked on a number of stories, including a print feature on how to make it in the music industry, to doing a radio package on the experiences of a person living with HIV. I've also had the opportunity to do live radio interviews and take part in the making of a First Light film documentary. I have become more conscious of the world around me, as well as becoming a peer trainer, where I get to share my skills with other young people.
Headliners has completely changed me as a person. When I first came to the project I was quite narrow-minded, had low self-esteem and I definitely had what I can only describe as an attitude problem, but that’s changed now. I’ve have become a very approachable, open-minded and confident young person; this is due to the organisation and the staff in Foyle. I now look forward to more years of contributing to the organisation."
Jordan, 12
"My name’s Jordan and I’ve been a member of Headliners for roughly three years now. I first got involved with Headliners through another group known as the Children‘s Parliament.
We went on a trip to the office because we were being interviewed for Loud ‘n’ Clear magazine. I really liked it there, so I joined at the following training session!
Since I joined, Headliners has enabled me to do the sorts of things I never thought I’d be able to do. I’ve been on the radio twice, and made a feature for the BBC on school dinners, which was really exciting.
This year I wrote a story after learning about what it means to become a vegetarian and trying it for a week. It got published in the Japanese Times! I also wrote for Children Now magazine about participation.
I like being able to go and do stories and ask questions. I also like that you can tell the staff how you want the organisation to run. I even got to do the interviews for some new members of staff.
Headliners has truly changed my life for the better, and I would recommend it to any young person interested in journalism!"
Lyra, 16
"When I look back on my achievements ten years from now, I know I'll say that Headliners was what changed it all for the better.
Before joining, I didn't have anything in particular to be proud of, except perhaps a rather bizarre love of writing. I wasn't a straight-A student, like some of my schoolmates, or one of the more popular ones, and I certainly never made the Northern Ireland under-16 football squad, as a few did. The only thing I was really good at was that passion for writing, and an insatiable curiosity which drove most people well beyond insanity!
It was with the help of my friends at Headliners, staff and members, that I won Young Journalist of the Year 2006 from Sky News. They broke down so many barriers for me, building my confidence and my faith in myself.
Headliners gave me a dream to strive for, to be a successful investigative journalist. The impact it has had on my life is dumbfounding. It is the reason I am continuing my education, in the hope of realising my dream. And the reason I can count myself as equal and as worthy, as those friends whose achievements used to dwarf my own. But thanks to Headliners, they don't, and can't, anymore."
Joanna, 18
"Headliners has given me the opportunity to experience things I never thought I would be able to. I feel it has opened my mind to things that go on in the world. It’s given me a chance to interview people who can also talk to me about things that affect people in the world, so whether it be about media, whether it be poverty, anything - all kinds of subjects.
I’ve only been on this course for a little while but already I’m seeing perks. I’ve been able to interview Channel 4 News presenter, Krishnan Guru-Murthy and talk to him about ‘media, power and truth’, and that was a very interesting conversation.
As the weeks go on, I feel my skills are being built. I’m getting more confident in myself to interview people, before, I’d be a bit timid. It’s just great to know to speak up and just to ask questions if something’s worrying me or that I genuinely want to know the answers to.
I’ve been able to meet other young people of all different ages and discuss issues. It’s great - I have different opinions to someone else’s opinion and I’d look at where they’re coming from and their point of view and I’d say that maybe I’d alter my opinion from here to there, so you get open minded when you come here. It’s good to experience peoples’ different backgrounds.
You’re learning but at the same time it’s exciting. It’s really, really motivating but you don’t realise that you’re covering all these subjects and learning new skills because you’re having so much fun."
