Journalists are being invited to enter an awards scheme which recognises the balanced reporting of young people and youth-related issues.

The competition is looking for entries from newspapers or individuals who can show they have made a real attempt to make sure that the voices of young people are heard in their coverage.

Submissions are welcome from journalists working in radio, TV and online as well as print, and there is a category dedicated to those working in the local press.

Last year the award was won by Nermin Oomer from the Burton Mail, after judges praised the way she had handled two articles about local projects aimed at improving the behaviour and skills of young people.

The Positive Images Awards were launched by Young People Now magazine last year after research showed that 71 per cent of newspaper coverage of young people was negative and just eight per cent of articles about young people included quotes from them.

The deadline for entries is January 9.

More information and entry forms can be found at www.ypnmagazine.com/campaign or by e-mailing ypn.editorial@haynet.com

Each newspaper can only enter once, but an entry can include any number of news stories and features which have been published in 2005.

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Have you won a press award? We'd love to hear from you. E-mail pastill@nep.co.uk