“The YSN program was enriching on so many levels,” said Natasha Milavec, 16, of Toronto. “I was able to improve my writing, gain confidence in interviewing many different people, build new friendships with fellow writers and deepen my faith in sharing it with others.   

Every summer, The Catholic Register selects up to a dozen candidates who contribute articles on a monthly basis from September to May. These writers, who have ranged in age from 15 to 27, receive journalism training and mentoring, while offering a fresh perspective on issues and events in the Church relevant to youth.

The program has been operating and training young journalists for more than ten years.

“Not only did the program and retreat weekend address the issues of newspaper design, production, photography, writing styles, interview techniques, and more in a very masterful way, it did so from the perspective of Catholic media,” said Philip Lynch, 27, of St. John’s. “I highly recommend this program to any young aspiring writers.”

At this year’s media retreat, Youth Speak News writers attended a movie screening and learned about writing movie reviews. A presentation on photography by professional photographer Bill Wittman was followed by visits to the offices of The Catholic Register and Salt + Light Television where the group learned about newspaper production and how to present themselves on camera.

As Youth Speak News 2009-2010 comes to a close, The Catholic Register is seeking candidates for next year’s program. Interested youth can visit www.catholicregister.org for details or call The Catholic Register office at (416) 934-3410.

This year’s application deadline is June 30.