BBC News – The Future’s Not Cancelled

In these uncertain times BBC News wanted to hear from young people about how they were feeling. The project asked real people across the country all about their hopes, dreams and fears, which has been woven into poetry by young people’s poet laureate Rakaya Esime Fetuga. The film is directed by Stella Scott featuring these real people, bringing her documentary storytelling to the spot.

With the pandemic affecting many young people’s futures, the campaign shows that BBC News is on their side, from helping them navigate the world when things seem unsure and unclear to covering news topics that matter personally to them (the campaign covers a range of subjects from mental health to jobs and future plans). The wider campaign documents conversations between these young people and BBC journalists, hearing their thoughts and experiences, which are accompanied by articles across BBC News.

Helen Rhodes (ECD) said  “It’s been a gruelling 10 months for everyone, but arguably this pandemic has hit young people the hardest. We wanted to create a campaign that authentically captured how they were feeling and how BBC News could play a role in supporting them. We’re not out the woods yet but it was heartening to see that the young people we spoke to are inherently optimistic about the future and their impact on the world.”