Up against candidates from all over the UK, Lyra Mc Kee (16), a member of Children’s Express, recently won the Sky UK Young Journalist of the Year Award 2006.
Lyra McKee is a sixteen-year-old reporter with Children's Express from
In the past few months, Lyra has been the centre of media attention, having appeared on GMTV Northern Ireland and BBC Newsline. The normally outgoing teenager admits, “It is a bit of a novelty to have been on television, and a little hard to deal with as well. I’m a journalist, not a celebrity. Lately, more often than not, I’ve been answering questions when I should’ve been asking them!”
Having just returned from
Beginning her A-Levels soon (she will be studying English Literature, Religion and History) at Belfast Institute, will be one of the next steps towards her dream of being a journalist. She says, “I’m just taking things one step at a time. Hopefully, it will all pay off”.
So, will we be hearing from the talented young hack anytime soon? “I don’t know”, she admits, suddenly absorbed in thought, “We (reporters) have very few moments of glory. I’m going to bask in mine while it lasts”.
Children’s Express is a voluntary youth organisation offering a programme of learning through journalism for young people aged 8-18. To find out more, check out their Website www.childrens-express.org




