Announcing the Winners of Our Young Environmental Journalist Competition

Left to right: Mikael Bergman, Charlotte Hetherington (Director, Artica Svalbard), Line Nagell Ylvisåker (editor of Svalbardposten and jury member), Ruth Møllerplass Huse

The future of environmental journalism is bright in Svalbard as two young writers, Ruth Møllerplass Huse and Mikael Bergman, clinched the top honours in our environmental journalism competition.

Ruth Møllerplass Huse, a 20-year-old student at Svalbard Folkehøgskole, won first place with her deeply introspective essay, "The Paradoxes of Living in Svalbard." Ruth's essay offers a poignant look at the complexities of residing in an environment as fragile and extreme as Svalbard. Through personal anecdotes and reflective insights, she tackles the inherent contradictions of living in a region marked by its own ecological footprints.

Mikael Bergman, a 15-year-old student from Longyearbyen Skole, captured second place with his compelling narrative, "Hunger and Guilt: The Polar Bear's Climate Struggle." Told from the perspective of a young polar bear, his essay effectively highlights the harsh realities faced by wildlife due to climate change, weaving a narrative that is both touching and thought-provoking.

The competition, which drew entries from young individuals between the ages of 14 and 20, aimed to encourage the next generation of journalists to articulate and advocate for environmental issues through compelling storytelling.

Ruth's winning piece will be featured in Svalbardposten, providing her with a platform to reach a broader audience with her compelling message; it is also available to read on the Artica website here. Additionally, she will receive a prize of NOK 4,000. Mikael was awarded NOK 2,500 and his essay is available to read on the Artica website, here.

As Svalbard continues to experience significant environmental shifts, the insights from these young writers serve as a crucial reminder of the ongoing impacts of climate change. Their work underscores the importance of nurturing young voices in journalism, particularly in fields as critical as environmental stewardship.

The competition was judged by a panel of experts including Line Nagell Ylvisåker, editor of Svalbardposten; Martin Lerberg Fossum, a communications advisor for the Ministry of Climate and Environment; and Susanne Kaluza, director of the House of Literature Foundation in Oslo.

The competition was generously supported by Sparebankstiftelsen SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge.