mmg.com.au

Raquel Barolli has all the personality traits needed to pursue a career in journalism.

‘‘I really like English and I always love talking,’’ the 17-year-old said.

Raquel has always been interested in the news.

She’s also passionate about teen issues.

So the Shepparton High School student jumped at the chance to be a journalist for a day in The News’ You Write The News competition.

‘‘It’s just something I love, I’ve always been interested in it,’’ she said.

She saw it as an opportunity to highlight issues important to her and her friends and put forward the perspective of the town’s youth.

‘‘Teenage youth is not catered for, like, there’s not enough transport,’’ Raquel said.

‘‘Yesterday I spent $25 on a taxi because I was going to see a friend.’’

Raquel said there also needed to be more youth music events that catered to all tastes in tunes.

She said about three quarters of her year level went to a recent music festival in Melbourne because it catered for a wide music audience.

The avid Backstreet Boys fan said more events would also give teens something to do during their holidays, aside from summer homework in preparation for Year 12.

She said recent attention on teen parties in the region scared others off holding them.

‘‘People feel they can’t have parties. People don’t know what to do,’’ she said.

‘‘I want to be a journalist for a day to gain experience for a career in journalism/TV presenting, but also get a view across about youths that doesn’t involve attention seeking and drama, but is genuine.’’