In the latest from our News Blog series, Irish Sun Editor, Paul Clarkson, celebrates International Youth Day and News UK's work investing in the next generation of journalists.

YOUTH is wasted on the young…so said one of Ireland’s most famous journalists George Bernard Shaw.

Of course it’s always the old who think such things; people who stare baffled at their smartphones and wonder why people never actually speak on them anymore.

Fortunately the lessons are clear for journalists like me – working with News Academy to give young aspiring journalists the skills for a bright and brave new media world.

This summer Ireland became the first country in the world to vote and approve marriage for everyone, no matter what your sexual orientation.

It was a movement utterly led by the young, who coaxed, convinced and cajoled an older conservative Ireland into the 21st Century.

International Youth Day aims to promote civic engagement around the globe. The truth is young people are engaged; if only the older generations stop and listen.

In the UK, much was made about Russell Brand’s pre-election social media campaign.

Ultimately the actor lost his way when he first urged people to do the exact opposite of like International Youth Day. He urged people to opt out of civic life, to note vote – before a last minute swing to Labour which ultimately achieved nothing.

This is why News Academy, run by News UK, is important in a media landscape going through its biggest revolution in 200 years.

The printed word is now challenged and complimented by the apparent anarchy and noise of social media, of blogs, of citizen journalists and of downright frauds.

Young people are totally at ease with these new digital forms of spreading information.

But it is up to companies like News UK to ensure the next generation of journalists retain the skills that make the media so vital to a functioning and free democracy.

How do we all separate the news from the noise? How do we rigorously check facts and understand the ethical consequences of every word we publish?

Those skills are timeless and with them the journalists of the future can carry on a proud tradition of provoking, inspiring and explaining an ever-changing world to the public who read them.

Learn more about the News Academy here.