The Island Games Organising Committee is inviting local students to become junior reporters during this year’s Island Games.
The opportunity will see up to 10 students, aged between 16 and 18, given a chance to gain real-life journalistic experience. The reporters will become a valued part of the communications team, seeking out newsworthy content for the official Island Games website and social media channels.
The selected students will receive training before the Games with award-winning communications agency Orchard, learning how to write news articles, conduct interviews, and capture video footage. Mimicking professional media teams, the reporters will attend an editorial meeting each morning to coordinate plans, receive feedback and discuss assignments. The team will then head out to the sporting venues to find their story, write it up and submit for review before the end of each day.
The Games, a seven-day celebration of sport and culture, is set to be the biggest sporting event the island has ever hosted, with up to 3,000 athletes and team members arriving in Guernsey, as 24 islands compete across 14 sports. The junior reporters will focus on the ‘stories behind the games’ – for example, people who have overcome adversity to compete, Team Gozo’s first experience at the Games, or the coach who has been to every Games since it began in 1985. And with another 1000+ volunteers added to the mix, there will be countless stories waiting to be found and shared.
Head of Youth Engagement for Guernsey 2023, Emma Beardsell, said: “This is the first time in Island Games’ history that we’ve been able to offer something like this to local students and we’re really excited about it. The Games’ tagline is ‘inspiring islanders’, which is just what this opportunity is about – inspiring the next generation of communications professionals. It’s a fantastic experience to add to a CV or UCAS application, build confidence and develop relevant skills for future studies or careers. I fully encourage aspiring journalists, PR professionals, and English or media students to apply.”
Students interested in becoming a junior reporter should speak to their head of year at school, who will provide them with an application form. Students must be aged 16-18 to apply, be in full-time education and be available during the week of the Games – 8-14th July 2023. Applicants have until Friday 5th May 2023, to apply.
Pictured: Prospective Junior Reporter Cerys Collins (left) interviewing Guernsey Athletics athlete Abi Galpin (right).
