Jeune Presse (J.Presse) is a French-based organisation dedicated to promoting youth press. "We stand for freedom of speech among young people," says Olivier Drapier of J.Presse. "We see newspapers and magazines written by young people in school as active tools for developing citizens."

In 1998 J.Presse reported on the situation in 10 European countries. Germany, France, Austria and Hungary appear to have the most developed "youth press".

The situation can vary quite dramatically from one country to another. For example, in Austria it is estimated from a survey that 10 per cent of those who take part want to become journalists, while 90 per cent write for school newspapers for fun and to express their opinions.

In Belgium, 15- to 18-year-olds can take part in the "Journalist for a Day" project, where a team of young people creates a newspaper. Up to 200 teams from school newspapers attend a annual two-day youth press awards festival in Poitiers, France.

In Germany, members of teams producing school newspapers can actually apply for a "Youth Press" card - which enables them to have free, official access to events of youth interest. In Hungary, two second-level schools out of three have their own publications.

The J.Presse report on school newspapers and magazines in the Netherlands says they seek to be funny and entertaining rather than political.

Four in five second-level schools in Portugal have a newspaper, usually initiated by teachers; J.Presse remarks that the student's voice is "barely heard".

Perhaps surprisingly, in Sweden there are very few school newspapers - though 15- to 18-year-olds account for 75 per cent of the contributors to a mass-circulation newspaper issued free to schools through the Swedish Post Offices!

J.Presse is organising an international gathering of young people involved in "youth press". It will take place in November, near Paris.

"We would be very pleased to welcome Irish participants,' Drapier says.

J.Presse has offices at 30 rue Erard, 75012 Paris and can also be emailed (jpresse@jpresse.fr) for further information.