Technology has changed the way we receive news, share information, and stay connected with those around us. However, it has also created new challenges for our society as anyone can now create and share content globally, making it extremely difficult to rectify fake news and avoid filter bubbles.
According to a study conducted by NTU, about 7 in 10 Singaporeans shared that they had unknowingly shared fake news. In an environment where misinformation and greenwashing is rampant, the YRE programme aims to help our youth navigate through these challenges by providing them with the expertise on how to consume and share sound information.
Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is an award-winning international programme coordinated by Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE) and organised annually by WWF-Singapore.
YRE engages participants aged 11 to 25 in environment-focused citizen journalism, encouraging them to investigate local environmental issues and solutions, and report on them through articles, photos, or videos.
It uses a tried and tested four-step methodology to achieve it’s impact across three mediums – Journalism, Photography and Videography-
| Investigate | Propose Solution | Report | Disseminate |
| Investigate a local environmental problem or issue | Research solutions to a local environmental problem or issue | Report on the local environmental issue and its possible solutions through a journalistic piece | Disseminate to the audience |
The workshops are open to the public and participants can learn how to produce and publish reports surrounding environmental themes such as Climate Change, Loss of Biodiversity and Pollution.
YRE concludes with a Year-End Competition where participants submit their reports. Submissions will be assessed by an expert panel and the winner will go on to compete in the YRE International Competition.
Through credible and creative storytelling, the programme empowers youth to confidently express concerns, ideas to inspire and enable their community to take environmentally positive actions and create change.
As part of the 3-year expansion plan for YRE, we aim to increase the programme’s reach to a larger audience by engaging schools, communities and interest groups. We also intend to provide participants with more in depth training with experts in media and environmental journalism. This will help build their knowledge and skills needed to navigate through today’s changing media landscape.
The YRE programme gave me a wider platform to talk about an issue that I was very passionate about, the unsustainable consumption of wildlife parts. To me, the most striking example of this in Singapore was the saiga antelope horn and I managed to raise awareness on the widespread sale of this critically-endangered species’ horns.
What I am very thankful for is that my efforts were recognised when I was awarded 1st place in the photography category. Besides that, the prize money also enabled me to purchase better camera gear and develop my photography skills further.
I think the YRE programme is an extremely great platform for our youth of today to be exposed to the international audience. It gave myself and other international students a chance to be part of something bigger.
In 2019 I was flown out to the International conference of sustainability education in New Delhi. Meeting the local students from India as well as other international YRE students and working with them during the event really gives you a perspective of how things are back home. It really gives you a new level of motivation and excitement.
In today’s digital landscape the YRE programme offers endless other opportunities. It managed to give me an experience no other programme could.
+65 6730 8100
©️ 2022 WWF – World Wide Fund for Nature (Singapore) Limited (UEN 200602275E) |
©️ 1986 Panda Symbol WWF – World Wide Fund For Nature (formerly World Wildlife Fund) | ®️ “WWF” is a WWF Registered Trademark
