Meet Luca, a 13-year-old IndyKids reporter from Queens, New York. Luca has been a reporter for the IndyKids newspaper since 2021 and has also produced a podcast for our Climate Crisis Podcast series. Recently, Luca was interviewed on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show and covered the most recent Youth Climate Strike in New York, where he interviewed several Fridays for Future organizers.
IndyKids: What motivated you to become a kid journalist, and what do you enjoy most about it?
Luca: I was initially looking for a summer program that would help keep me occupied during the long break, and it turned out that journalism really sparked my interests. I really enjoy the research and connections you make along the way, but I’d say that my favorite part is definitely seeing my articles published in the newspaper!
IndyKids: Why do you think social justice news reporting is important?
Luca: I think it is extremely important to have well-educated youth especially when it comes to social justice issues and climate change. The first step to achieving this is making news widely available and easily understood by children and teenagers. I love being able to write about topics that are considered controversial, because there isn’t a lot of reliable information available for children that covers these things.
IndyKids: You were recently interviewed by Brian Lehrer on WNYC. What was that experience like for you?
Luca: It was a really great experience for me! I was able to discuss the podcast I made with investigative reporter Katie Worth, where we discussed how poorly climate change is taught in our schools. It was a very positive and empowering experience.
IndyKids: At the Fridays for Future Youth Climate Strike in early March, you interviewed several organizers of the event. What was that experience like for you?
Luca: It was an incredible experience for me, and I learned so much about a lot of amazing people and the bills they were trying to get passed. It was a very positive and empowering experience.
IndyKids: What advice do you have for kids who want to start writing?
Luca: Just do it, even if it doesn’t come naturally to you. You will evolve as a person and a writer, and even if you don’t end up liking it, you will have gained a lot of experience. Never doubt yourself and how brilliant you can be!
