BEES Young Reporter Program

Kids all over Arizona cover stories and write for Bear Essential News.
We’ve even had international correspondents!

The Young Reporters Program is free and teaches kids in grades 3 through 8 the basics of journalism, sharpens their writing and gives them real-world experience. Stories appear in Bear Essential News, Arizona’s leading newspaper for students and their families, and most stories are permanently posted on Bear’s website.

Students get to cover the news that interests them—hot happenings, important issues or any fun or cool subject that they come up with.

Assignments are usually given to the more experienced young journalists, but new reporters can request assignments as well.

The program is now in its 44th year, and Young Reporters have gotten the scoop from presidents, governors, all-star athletes, world famous singers, actors and authors. They’ve covered all sorts of science stories, fabulously fun family events and, most importantly, the news that happens around them—at their school, clubs and other community activities.

Beyond sharpening their writing and communication skills, the Young Reporters Program has worked wonders when it comes to kids’ self-esteem.

Teachers or parents act as Young Reporter Advisers, helping students with story ideas and lightly editing their stories for submission. Young Reporters get everything they need to get started: an official YR Kit complete with press pass, official stylebook and reporter fun pages.