Budding Wirral newshounds in running for Amnesty International award (From Wirral Globe)

Budding Wirral newshounds in running for Amnesty International award

2:45pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News By Craig Manning

FIVE budding newshounds from a Wirral school are in the running for Amnesty International’s Young Human Rights Reporter of the Year award.

Ashlea Davies, Rebecca Williams, Chloe Rowlands and Luka Philip - who all attend Wirral Grammar School For Girls - made the top 10 in the photojournalism category whilst the fifth, India Moore, was recognised in the journalism writing category.

Around 2,500 children entered the prestigious nationwide competition, which is being run by Amnesty International UK, the Guardian Teacher Network and the secondary school magazine SecEd.

Only ten entries from each category have been selected to go to the judging panel.

The students will now have their work judged by panels of editors, authors and industry professionals including renowned author Sara Grant, Guardian comment editor Joseph Harker, Guardian picture editor Roger Tooth and Jenny Matthews from PhotoVoice.

Hayley Smith, the students' teacher, said: "I am delighted that five of our girls have been selected for the longlist; they have worked hard and I am very proud of their achievements."

Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International UK, said: "Photographers and journalists play such an important role in exposing human rights abuses and it is inspiring to see so many children and young people taking an active interest in human rights."

The top three in each category will be unveiled on April 3. They will then be invited to a prestigious awards ceremony, at Amnesty International UK’s headquarters on April 30, where the winner will be announced.