Interested in the world around you? Think young people have something important to say?

Think they should be heard? Then you may be the ideal candidate for the position of Young Observer reporter.

A Young Observer reporter is a middle or high school student in Bermuda who is willing to report on the news, sports, lifestyle and concerns of Bermuda's young people on a regular basis.

Monthly assignments may take a Young Observer reporter to a youth conference, a teen debate, or a sports tournament.

He or she may interview a young achiever with an unusual hobby or the head prefects of the local high schools. She may even find herself interviewing adult professionals about teen issues.

Assignments are about 450 — 500 words in length, and are arranged in consultation with Jennifer Hind, the Royal Gazette's Education Services Co-ordinator.

Story ideas may come from the reporters themselves or through 'official channels'.

Deadlines are also negotiated to fit into the reporters' other commitments and the Young Observer's schedules.

During the 2009-10 school year, five young reporters wrote on a regular basis, with two others writing occasionally.

We are looking to expand our team so that Bermuda's youth are given serious coverage on issues they care about.

14-year-old Allanna Bean started writing for Young Observer, affectionately known as YOB, when she was a student at Dellwood Middle School, and continued despite the greater demands on her time as she moved to The Berkeley Institute.

"When I first started writing for Young Observer, I was nervous and didn't know what to expect," she recalled. "I didn't know if I would live up to everyone's expectations, or if I would even be treated respectfully by other YOB reporters.

"The moment I stepped through those doors, all those thoughts were wiped clean from my head," she continued.

"Everyone was so kind, understanding, and best of all they didn't treat me as if I was new. They all treated me as if we'd known each other for years.

Writing for the YOB, has been a great experience, and I would highly recommend it to any child that is willing to step up to a challenge."

Another Berkeley student, Elizabeth Blankendall, has been writing for Young Observer for 11 months, and believes that while being a student reporter is not always the easiest thing neither is it the hardest.

She described the experience as "one-of-a-kind and very rewarding".

"It requires dedication, commitment and also consistency, which are key!" she noted. "I have found while writing that this position allows for lots of diversification and personality.

"Most would think that I love to write, hence my writing for the Young Observer. But in actual fact writing is not my favourite activity.

"This opportunity has allowed me to gradually have an appreciation for writing and the daily newspaper.

"It has also permitted me to meet many new people while developing writing skills and ways to enhance them."

So if you think you'd like to play a role in raising the positive profile of Bermuda's youth, contact Jennifer Hind at jhind@royalgazette.bm or 278-0136 for further information.