Junior journalist opportunities
Explore the press opportunities for children and young people in the UK. From press events and festivals to book reviews and competitions, First News helps aspiring reporters gain real journalism experience.
If you are interested in any of the current opportunities below, please email [email protected]. For junior journalist reports, we require 150-200 words and a few hi-res photos of your experience. We welcome reports from everyone, regardless of ability!
We update this page regularly with new opportunities. Last updated: 07/09/26.
Scare us silly with YOUR spooky story!
What? Wimpy kids, listen up – First News has teamed up with the one and only Jeff Kinney to launch a splendidly spooky writing competition!
You know Jeff – he’s the creator of the world-famous Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. He’s just released Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2, a new collection of spooky stories involving Greg Heffley’s best friend Rowley. Now, he wants to read yours!
Here’s how to enter!
Jeff has sent us four spooky story starters (below) to get you going. Choose one from A, B, C or D. Then, take it from there yourself!
Complete a spine-tingling tale in 400 words, and email it in to us at [email protected], with Spooky Story as the subject, by 2 October. We’ll select a shortlist of our favourites and send them to Jeff. He will then pick his favourite.
The winner will bag a signed copy of Spooky Stories 1 and 2, AND we’ll print the winning story for all to see in the 30 October issue of First News!
To enter: email us at [email protected] putting ‘Spooky Story’, in the subject box or visit first.news/comps.
Make your own sourdough in London’s Borough Market!
What? Bread Ahead, the artisan bakery and baking school founded by Matthew Jones at Borough Market in 2013, is celebrating Sourdough September by putting the bread that has been part of its story from the very beginning centre stage, with a new line-up of sourdough workshops launching across its Baking Schools this September.
Try making your own sourdough and write a review of the experience for First News!
When? Workshop dates in the link below.
Where? Borough Market, London SE1 9AH.
Find out more at breadahead.com.
Invite to the preview of Two Centuries Here
What? A First News reader is invited to the press day to visit two of London’s best kept secrets, The Grant Museum of Zoology and the Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology in Bloomsbury, London which are celebrating 200 years in 2026.
The Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology is home to one of the largest and most important collections of Egyptian archaeology globally, including the world’s oldest woven garment, the Tarkhan dress, the oldest medical text on women’s health and some of the earliest known hieroglyphics.
The UCL Grant Museum of Zoology is home to 100,000 specimens from every continent, ocean, and animal group, many of them donated by London Zoo over the past 200 years for anatomical study and specimen collection. A miniature “Natural History Museum”, specimens including a Quagga skeleton, Tasmanian tiger, Dodo Bones, Seychelles Frogs.
They form part of UCL’s new Two Centuries Here exhibition. Get in touch to go along and write a report for First News!
When? Press view is Tuesday 15 September from 10am-1pm.
Where? Octagon Gallery, Wilkins Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT.
Find out more at ucl.ac.uk/about/ucls-bicentenary/ucl200-exhibition-two-centuries-here.
Feature in Your News!
If you want to be a junior journalist for First News and go to cool press events or write about something that you’re passionate about, get in touch by asking a trusted adult to email us at [email protected].
Write a book review and have it featured in First News!
Do you have thoughts on a book you have read recently that you want to share with others? Why not write a book review for us? Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Write 100-120 words on any type of book – chapter books, graphic novels, fiction, non-fiction… even audiobooks are all welcome! No person, reader type, format or genre is excluded
- Tell us what the book is about, what you most enjoyed about it, how the book made you feel and if you had any favourite parts
- Suggest which type of reader would enjoy it
- A picture of the reader holding the book is welcome, too, but not essential
- You could even submit a review as a whole class
Send all book reviews in to [email protected] or by clicking the button below.