Supporter To Reporter Phil AKA “poiuytrewq” got his podcast played out on BBC Radio2 last week. His interview with local hero Lord David Puttnam was broadcast as part of Claudia Winkleman’s arts and culture show on Friday night. The Strictly star’s show is one of the most popular arts shows on radio so it was a great honour for the production team to accept a piece made by a school student for broadcast. Phil’s interview with Lord Puttnam focused on his film Chariots of Fire and asked if heroes are still important in todays Olympics….
Ryan Giggs, Jenson Button and the rest weren’t the only super stars at this year Sports Personality of The Year Awards – a team of Radiowaves reporters were invited to get an exclusive behind the scenes view of the prestigious event. The intrepid reporters from schools in Manchester and Northampton created podcasts and videos of the event and posted them on Radiowaves, the safe social network for schools. They met with host Jake Humphrey and also the outside broadcast production team so they could see first hand what it takes to make such a big broadcasting event. It was a great opportunity for the reporters to put their media training into action, mix with TV professionals and add their personalities to this years awards.
…it would probably be the best and most random one ever judging by the responses to one of our reporters’ stories.
As part of Supporter To Reporter’s build up to the 2012 Olympics, students have been asking people what would make the games extra special for them. Obviously we all want to win a gold medal but who do you want to present it to you? Who should light the flame? What about the national anthem? And who do you want on your team?
There have been some great suggestions so far. Here are some of the highlights:
Who do you want to present your gold medal to you?
Shami Chakrabarti (Liberty Director)
Muhammed Ali
they should get all the nurses from the local hospitals in to do it.
Lady Gaga or my mum and dad!
Who should light the Olympic flame?
David Beckham
Usain Bolt
Bob Geldof
I would like to light it myself!!
Who should sing/compose the anthem?
New order Mcfly
Jedward!!
My daughter!
Which athlete from any country or time would you want on your team?
Harold Abrahams (Chariots of Fire) who ran to overcome prejudice
David Beckham as he is one of the few people who looks good in a tracksuit
Daley Thompson best all round athlete EVER!!!!!
Evel Knievel but i don’t think he’s an actual athlete.
Six school students from Manchester and London have been invited to visit Vancouver to report on the build up to next year’s Winter Olympics. The group of 14 and 15 year olds will also visit Montreal and Calgary to see the legacy of previous games in those cities. During the trip the young reporters will be creating videos, podcasts and blogs and publishing them on Radiowaves (www.radiowaves.co.uk), the safe social network for school podcatsing. Anyone will be able to view the stories, follow their journey and leave their own comments on the Radiowaves website.
This innovative project is the result of a partnership between the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), Supporter To Reporter (S2R) and Lancashire County Cricket Club Education Centre to raise awareness of Canada’s Olympic and cultural history and as a destination country.
Supporter To Reporter is a multi-award winning project run by Radiowaves for young people to raise their aspirations through a programme of journalism training, access to key sporting events and publishing on a the Radiowaves network.
The project is chance for S2R students to develop their skills and see firsthand the impact and legacy of the Olympics as they prepare for our own games in London 2012.
Glyn McGuire from Lancashire Cricket Club says of the Canadian visits:
“This is an amazing opportunity for talented youngsters to report from a country excitedly preparing for a Winter Olympics. It’s also a chance to make a ‘real’ difference to their outlook on education, life and to embrace the culture of a different nation. Importantly, this visit will establish sustainable and tangible links between the young people in both countries in order to report on all aspects of the Olympics.”
One of the students says of their experience:
“Supporter To Reporter has presented me with so many opportunities in life and I am determined to make the most of this not only for myself but also for other young people”
The young reporters were in the Cook Islands to report on the Pacific Mini Games for Supporter To Reporter when the tsunami struck neighboring Samoa and American Samoa. A tsunami warning was issued for the Cook Islands but after a tense few hours the danger had passed. For many of those competing or attending the games however the tsunami had already struck home. The young reporters spoke with them to get their stories and also to reflect on how they had been affected themselves.
When a natural disaster strikes somewhere far from the UK (either geographically or culturally far) it can be difficult to connect our every day experiences with those caught in the disaster. While 24 hour news might bring us rolling coverage and graphic images from around the world the personal stories often go unheard. For the students from Manchester on S2R the experience is something that deeply affected them and was a reminder that although events may seem far away the reality is much closer to our own lives than we maybe like to think.
Eight Manchester school students are flying the flag for the UK at the 2009 Pacific Mini Games in Rarotonga this month. The 14-16 year olds are attending the games as journalists for Supporter To Reporter, the award winning programme that helps young people develop media skills and publish their work. As accredited press the young reporters are working alongside mainstream media to make videos, podcasts and blogs and publishing them on Radiowaves (www.radiowaves.co.uk), the safe social network for schools and young people. Anyone will be able to view the stories, follow their journey and leave their own comments on the Radiowaves website.
As well as being sports reporters the students will also be cultural ambassadors for the North West and will be helping build links between the two communities in the build up to 2012. The Oceania teams will be making their home in the North West when they train and compete in the Olympics.
Glyn Mcguire from Trafford Children and young people service says of the Pacific Games visit:
“This is an amazing opportunity for talented youngsters to report from a major sporting event as bona fide journalists. It’s also a chance to broaden their horizons and make connections between the Manchester and the Pacific nations- links we hope will grow and flourish for 2012 and beyond”
S2R North West has been awarded the 2012 Inspire Mark for embodying the values of the Olympics
Seb Coe, Chair, London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, says of the S2R programme:
“…I am proud that with the help of Supporter To Reporter we are delivering on our vision to use the power of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to help these budding young journalists gain confidence and experience whilst providing a unique platform for the voice of their generation”
One of the students says of their experience:
“S2R has helped me a lot with my schoolwork and social skills. I think I can do anything now”
By working their way from being a supporter in Manchester to a reporter in the south pacific we think these young stars really can do anything!
To see all the stories and follow all the action at the Mini Pacific Games visit www.radiowaves.co.uk/s2r
The visit to the Cook Islands is being funded by Lancashire Cricket Education Centre
Supporter To Reporter (S2R) is supported by The Football Foundation and Trafford and Northampton’s Children’s & Young People’s Services. It is being delivered through Radiowaves, the BETT Award-winning platform for schools and authorities that provides safe video, blogging, podcasting and networking tools for students.
Radiowaves is the world’s leading social media website in the education sector providing a safe space for 5-19yrs to publish audio and video podcasts and connect together within a national community. Firmly established within the education sector for the past six years, Radiowaves works with teachers and young people on a number of large scale national media projects. www.radiowaves.co.uk
Pacific Mini Games (http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-4592-0-0-0) – 22 countries from the South Pacific will compete in 14 sports. Competing nations include Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. The 2009 games are being held in the Cook Islands 21st September to 2nd October.
Last week was the UK School Games and the S2R team was there to video, podcast and blog all the action on these rising stars. The UK School Games is for elite young sports stars to compete at the top of their game. This year saw 1500 young athletes compete in 10 sports over three days in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea. The Supporter To Reporter team was right in the middle of this huge event covering every aspect for the safe social network Radiowaves and for the Games’ own daily newspaper “The Games Today”.
The UK School Games is the pinnacle for school sports stars and for the young Radiowaves reporters it was a chance to develop their skills at a multi-day multi-sport event in preparation for the big one in 2012.
It’s not a football version of cage fighting but one busy day for the Supporter To Reporter team in London. The student reporters from Arsenal and Totenham had been training hard over summer to cover the big matches on Sunday.
The young S2R teams got behind the scenes access and interviewed some of the stars there.
A few words with Gomes…
And a moment with Zola…
Away from the football S2R the team in the north west have been working towards their Silver Arts Award with a live broadcast and star reporter TheBeast has been creating his own scoops by joining up with the Rapha Condor cycling team in his own time – get a trip in the race car at http://www.radiowaves.co.uk/story/78914
It’s just under 3 years before the 2012 Olympics begins. The handball court is under construction, the fast trains are in service and Supporter To Reporter is well on track to become THE place for young sports reporters.
In the past few weeks the S2R team has been busy all over the country reporting on key events, getting behind the scenes access and climbing a hill with a prince…. in case you missed any of the action here are just a few highlights:
The S2R team attended the prestigious 2 day summit to learn about sports projects around the world and speak with guests including Lord Puttnam, Kelly Holmes and Tessa Jowell.
S2R star Nathan has just been given a prestigious apprenticeship woth the BBC. This follows on from his great reports for Supporter To Reporter including interviewing players in the tunnel at Manchester United, reporting from the Rugby final at tickenham and doiong a presentation to the Football Foundation board. We know Nathan will be a great asset to the BBC and will also still be getting all the scoops for us on S2R…such as….
To celebrate the 3 year countdown to the Olympics and raise awareness of the work done by Centrepoint S2R reporters accompanied HRH Prince William to the summit of Helvellyn. Not content with being the only journalists allowed to report on the trek the S2R team managed to be in two places at once as well. While Nathan and Luke climbed the mountain their collegaues were on stage in Liverpool presenting the project to an audience of journalists and sports stars. THe two then met up via a satelite phone with a live interview with Prince William 955 meters above sea level.
Supporter To Reporter now has 1761 stories, and 199 young reporters taking part. With 3 years to go we know there is another mountain to climb but with stories like these along the way it should be a great view….
Six school students from Manchester and London have been invited to visit Vancouver to 
Last week was the 
It’s just under 3 years before the 2012 Olympics begins. The handball court is under construction, the fast trains are in service and 
