REMINDER: WCF Trainee Journalist & Photographer Programme closes Monday

The World Curling Federation (WCF) has launched a new programme for aspiring young sports journalists and photographers, giving students from across the world the opportunity to gain valuable media experience at an international sporting event.

Trainee journalists will get to interview athletes and report on the competition, while photographers will be tasked with capturing all of the action on the ice and behind the scenes.

Your work will be published not only on the WCF event website and social media but may also feature on your own Member Association's website and social media (where available).

Trainee journalists and photographers will also be given the opportunity to experience webcast broadcasts during the Championships.

This unique opportunity will give two students the chance to develop journalistic or photography skills in a practical setting, providing you with vital knowledge and experience which will help you progress prospective careers within the media industry.

One journalist and one photographer will be awarded with a fully paid trip to the World Junior Curling Championships 2013 in Sochi, Russia, including return flights, accommodation and a personal monetary allowance for the duration of the event.

This programme is offering two places to students - one for a journalist and one for a photographer.

Depending on which position you wish to apply for, please read the competition entry requirements below:

Entrants are required to demonstrate your ability to write a newsworthy story and develop creative interview questions.

1. Students are asked to submit a 500 word report on a memorable event/competition/game from their favourite sport, detailing what made the event so special for them.

2. Students must also write three questions, based on the line scores below, that they would ask: - The winning skip
- The losing skip:

Note: The World Curling Federation is keen to make the competition as accessible as possible to students from all over the world by allowing entries to be submitted in their native language. However, basic English would be an essential requirement to be eligible to take part effectively in this programme.

Students are asked to submit 10 images from a local curling event which capture movement in curling and the passion of the game.

One reporter and one photographer will be picked by an international panel of judges, consisting of media & communications professionals and members of the WCF Executive Board. 

Entrants must adhere to the following rules:

• Students must be in full time education (high school, college or university) and aged 18-30 years of age before 1 March 2013.

• All entries must be entirely the work of the entrant. All plagiarised material will be immediately discarded. 

• Students must be available to travel to Sochi, Russia between the dates of 28 February to 10 March 2013.

During the event, the trainee journalist/photographer will also be given the opportunity to:

• Work on the media bench during games (journalist)

• Take photos from the field of play and behind the scenes (photographer)

• Write news/feature stories or capture images that may be published on their Member Association / WCF website

• Undertake pre or post-game interviews with players and coaches (journalist)

• Capture all of the action from the ice, from the first draw until the medal games and including the opening, closing and medal ceremonies (photographer)

• Observe and participate in a live game webcast

• Meet with reporters/photographers who regularly cover the sport

• Earn references for future employment from an international sports governing Body, the WCF

If you have any questions about the Junior Reporter Programme, please contact: media@worldcurling.org