news release

The Young Journalist (TYJ) begins its fifth year with a 47% increase in enrollment over last year from the same number of sites.  114 students are enrolled, which does not include 87 students mentored during three 2023 summer camps.

TYJ began in 2018 at one elementary school with six students.  The program is an after-school program now offered at 11 Indian River County elementary schools and the Gifford Youth Achievement Center (GYAC).

The program is a free fun after-school reading and writing academic enrichment program mentoring third, fourth and fifth graders on how to become journalists.  

GYAC is the newest site for the program, attracting 18 students. GYAC students include middle and high school students faced with writing school applications.

TYJ is also announcing an unrestricted $ 25,000 grant from the Joy Street Foundation, Edison, New Jersey.  Joy Street is focused on early childhood education and what we do.

TYJ is also pleased to announce the addition of two new mentors.

Bonnie Bramwell is a senior at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, FL. She graduated from Indian River Charter High School and currently lives in Vero Beach. Bonnie is a columnist and the social media manager for The Crimson- Florida Tech’s student-run newspaper. She is also President of Lambda Pi Eta, Florida Tech’s National Communication Association’s official honor society. 

Leah Cortez appreciates thoughtfully assembled facts, expressive fictional characters, and well executed formatting. She wants to teach children to recognize the characteristics of the different writing styles and appreciate the choices made by the writer (or speaker); believing they can provide young students a foundation for deeper level engagement with the material they will be observing, assembling, and presenting for all their days.

Please visit theyoungjournalist.com to see a video of our students, as well as their news broadcast.