Young human rights writer Alice wins top prize

GUARDIAN journalists were among those to select a Warwick schoolgirl’s writing as the best in her category in a reporting competition that attracted more than 3,000 entrants.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th May 2012, 13:00 BST

King’s High School pupil Alice Woodhouse’s article about prejudice against the Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities, has won her the title of winner of the sixth form section of Amnesty International’s Young Human Rights Reporter of the Year.

With judging panel that included Ian Cobain, senior reporter for the Guardian, Emily Drabble, contributing editor of the Guardian Teacher Network, Anna Perera, author of Guantanamo Boy, and Nicky Parker and Niall Couper from Amnesty International, the competition asked entrants in the sixth form category to submit a report of up to 500 words on a topic relating to human rights.

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Speaking after the awards ceremony, which took place at the charity’s headquarters in London on Wednesday, Alice, 17, said: “I was utterly gobsmacked and exhilarated and rather surprised. I honestly though it was not going to be Alice Woodhouse. I had read all the other pieces and they were very, very good.

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“Being a journalist is something I have always wanted to be - and this has given me the confidence to go for it. It feels like that is no longer such a far-flung dream and that I have a real hope of achieving it.”

Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, said: “Our congratulations go to all the winners. It’s been a fantastic competition and we’re proud to be encouraging the next generation of human rights journalists.

“Reporters play a vital role in shining a spotlight on the appalling human rights abuses that happen every day across the globe. Hopefully the entrants into the Young Human Rights Reporter of the Year can take up that mantle in the years ahead.”