Are you an aspiring young writer in Aotearoa?
Do you feel that it is important for youth voice to be heard?
Create Happy Media does. As part of our journey to make the Aotearoa media scene more inclusive and youth-representative, we're running a 2 day long intensive Compassionate Journalism training, designed by our crew and industry professionals. Free for anyone 12-24 to attend, all we ask is that you are engaged and contributing to making it the best possible workshop.
At the end of the workshop, writers will get the chance to join Create Happy as a journalist. Our workshop will be held on Zoom over the weekend of March 1st and 2nd, 2025.
MEET OUR SPEAKERS FOR 2025
"I completed the Create Happy Compassionate Journalism course in March of 2023, and it’s not an understatement for me to say that it changed my life. I met some of my now best friends there, I learned invaluable skills about crafting stories, and in the end, I got to join Create Happy — obviously the best part. Fast forward one year, and I’m the co-editor, helping to organise this years course so that hopefully I can give the next round of young people the same opportunities I’ve been given. I cannot recommend it enough."
- Cassie Taulelei, CJ Course Alumnus, Co-Editor of Create Happy Magazine
About Us:
Create Happy Media is Aotearoa’s largest youth-operated media outlet, run by and for rangatahi aged 10-24. It started with a simple goal: to give young people the power to tell their own stories. Frustrated by how mainstream media misrepresented youth, a group of teenagers came together to create a platform where rangatahi could report on the issues that matter to them—without the usual stereotypes or filters.
Since launching in 2022, we’ve published over 350 articles, released multiple online editions, built a team of 50+ young journalists, and begun developing our podcast. We’ve covered major events, collaborated with industry professionals, and had our work recognised in spaces like the Education Gazette. Our Founder & CEO was a GirlBoss Award winner in 2022 and has spoken at TEDxYouthPaparangi. Create Happy Media also won the Arts & Culture category at the 2023 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards.
We are looking for young journalists, interviewers, fiction writers, proofreaders, and poets to join our team. If you’re passionate about storytelling and want to be part of a movement redefining youth media, sign up below.
Sign up for our 2025 course here: