Media for Advocacy
Build the skills you need to use the media as a tool for advocacy.
In August and November 2024, young people from across the country gathered in Melbourne and Sydney for a transformative weekend of in-person workshops as part of the Media for Advocacy: Youth Media Training Program. With all expenses covered—including travel and accommodation grants for regional participants—the program provided an accessible opportunity for young activists to build critical media skills and advocate for change.
Media for Advocacy: Youth Media Training Program
It is critical that young people’s voices are heard in the media – that their views on issues which affect them are reflected in stories about them, and shape public perceptions about the transformative change young people want to see. And yet, so often, young people are ignored, stereotyped, or sidelined in media reporting. It can also be hard to know where to start, or how to engage with the media to advocate for change. This is why Media for Advocacy: Youth Media Training Program is here to help you build the skills you need to engage with the media and advocate for change.
When and where did the program take place?
In-person Workshops
The program ran over a weekend in August and November in Melbourne and Sydney respectively.
Online Support sessions
Three monthly online support sessions following the workshop to continue to develop your media skills, workshop pitches or story ideas, and connect with fellow workshop participants with support from FYA staff.
What Participants Experienced
- Free program, with covered expenses for travel (including travel/accommodation grants for regional participants) and lunch and snacks provided.
- Hands-on skill-building sessions on how to write a media release, craft key messages, and pitch to journalists.
- Practical sessions on preparing for and conducting interviews, speaking from lived experience, protecting your story, your legal rights and power dynamics.
- Hear directly from experts working in or engaging with the media, including seasoned journalists and political media advisors.
- Connect with like-minded young activists and youth-led campaigns.
- Information on how FYA can further support your own community campaign.
Who was able to apply?
Media for Advocacy: Youth Media Training Program is open to anyone 16-29 years old based in VIC or NSW (Metro and Regional).
Stay tuned for updates on Media for Advocacy in 2025!
Frequently Asked Questions
The workshop facilitator for Media for Advocacy is Heather McNab (she/her), Youth Media Lead at FYA
Heather leads FYA’s Youth Media Centre where she supports and trains up young people and youth-led campaigns to use the media as a tool for advocacy. Heather worked as a journalist at the Australian Associated Press and NewsCorp before moving into government communications, particularly in strategic communications for the Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore. Heather acted as media advisor for the inaugural Youth Voice to Parliament campaign in 2021 and was campaign media advisor for a Teal Independent during the 2022 Federal election.
- External Facilitators TBC
FYA staff will select participants. We are looking for a diverse group of young people with a range of lived experience of injustice who want to use the media as a tool to advocate for change. No prior media understanding or experience is needed.
Commitment to attend the two days Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 November from 9.00am until 5.00pm.
There is no cost to participants. FYA will provide lunch and a travel allowance to all participants including regional applicants (including accommodation costs where needed).
We will have a wellbeing plan and ensure to make the event as inclusive and accessible as possible. The meeting spaces are all wheelchair accessible and have accessible bathrooms. Auslan interpreters can be provided. All participants will be given a participant form that will inform how we best support participants.
We will be following the FYA Covid policy and have a Covid plan. We will supply rapid antigen tests (RATs), hand sanitiser and N-95 face masks. There will be an air filter running at the venue.
To attend the Media for Advocacy workshops, you need to:
- It is recommended that you are vaccinated against COVID-19
- Do a RAT the day before or morning of the workshop, with a negative result
- Not have cold or flu-like symptoms or be waiting on COVID-19 test results
- Not have recently been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
For more information get in contact with Heather at heather.mcnab@fya.org.au
I came away from the two days with so much renewed energy for my advocacy and felt SO much more well equipped to work with the media. The knowledge I gained is so invaluable and has already made a difference in how I approach my advocacy.
Media for Advocacy Naarm Participant