Young people in the UK are often unfairly portrayed by the media, to the point that they can sometimes appear to be demonised.

Headliners is a unique organisation in that it allows young people to answer back; teaching them important media literacy skills and helping create stories that put young people's opinions into the mainstream news agenda.

It gives young people the opportunity to explore the world around them - from the very real issues of living on gang-ridden estates to how young people themselves are tackling the HIV epidemic in Africa.

Young people set the agenda; choosing the stories that most interest them and then set about researching and conducting interviews before writing or editing the story for publication or broadcast. In the last twelve months Headliners has interviewed everyone from cabinet ministers to NGOs, to journalists, to business leaders… but most importantly they have interviewed other young people.

Headliners is not an organisation just for bright-young high-fliers; it specifically targets young people who are at risk of exclusion or isolation; either because of their ethnicity, their social status, a disability or long-term illness, the fact they have been in care, are a young parent or have been excluded from the education system. In Northern Ireland, where there are two bases, Headliners was one of the first youth organisations to actively work with all sections of the community without prejudice.

Using new media to publish stories, both written and audio/visual, means that a far larger number of people can access the work our young reporters have been doing. Headliners is continuing to explore new ways to use new media to further their work, and welcomes the recognition of what it seeks to achieve to benefit young people and society at large.

Nominated by Oliver Benson, 05 March 2007

I just browsed the Headliners site and was in such admiration for what they are trying to do. The project seems to cover so many bases like self-empowerment, communication skills, discovering other ways to live, involvement in community and a sense of care and commitment from all involved.

I hope this does so well that it replicates throughout Britain - it could almost be 'apprenticed' to a newspaper in every town where a supplement could be included weekly or monthly - written by the youths and guided by their mentors.

Best of luck.

Namaste,

Tina Louise

Submitted by Tina Louise, 20 March 2007

i think that this was the weirdest message evr lmao i think it was hilarious

Submitted by bobalaquisha yolanda bobobobanda lakisha lakisha monisha fonquis, 13 May 2007

I would like to voice my support for the nomination for Headliners as an innovative and dynamic contributor to civic society. The organisation takes a wholly young people-centred approach in all it does, and provides a broad range of opportunities for young people to really make their opinions heard. Headliners offers young people real oportunities to learn new skills, enhance those that they already bring and to put these into practice, but most importantly it provides them with the chance to make a real impact as it puts the agenda firmly in their hands. The staff at Headliners work hard to ensure that projects are linked to policy-makers and media organisations, so that the young people who get involved have direct access to them. If there is one media organisation that deserves proper recognition for the brilliant work that it does, Headliners is it.

Submitted by Sue, 23 May 2007