Pupils challenged to take the editor’s chair and create their own magazines

The National Literacy Trust has teamed up with Girl Talk and Mega magazines to give budding young journalists the chance to create their very own magazines. The Editor Challenge offers a series of five activities for Key Stage 2 pupils to complete – a celebrity feature, a review, a quiz, a storyboard and a front cover – which could be used to make a magazine.

Schools that register to take part in the competition will have access to a range of resources to enable pupils aged between seven and 11 years old to produce their own issue of Girl Talk or Mega magazine. For each activity, teachers will be able to select from a range of templates designed for different literacy levels to suit students of all abilities. An image pack containing logos and celebrity photos will be provided to help give students’ work a professional look, and schools will also receive a class poster and a certificate for each pupil.

Students who complete more than three activities will be entered into a grand prize draw. One winner will receive an eReader, £50 in book vouchers and a one-year subscription to either Girl Talk or Mega magazine. The winner’s school will also receive a visit from a storyteller, as well as a one-year subscription to five Immediate Media magazine titles of their choice. Ten runners up will also win a magazine subscription.

Participating schools can also enter up to three of their students’ completed magazines into a special bonus prize category. These entries will be judged by a panel including staff from Girl Talk and Mega magazine and the lucky winner will be invited to the Immediate Media head office to meet the team and learn more about how magazines are put together.

The Editor Challenge runs until 18 December. To take part, visit literacytrust.org.