The International University Sports Federation launched this journalism education programme to provide young sports journalists with a unique training experience during FISU’s major multi-sport events, the summer and winter World University Games. While this is an education programme, it is organised and conducted by the FISU Media department, under the Media and Communication Committee.
After the inaugural edition of the FISU Young Reporters Programme in 2011 at the 26th Summer Universiade in Shenzhen, China, and the successful editions during the Summer Universiades in Kazan 2013, Gwangju 2015 and Taipei 2017, FISU hosted its fifth Young Reporters Programme group for the first time at a Winter Universiade during the Krasnoyarsk 2019 Winter Universiade.
The Young Reporters Programme takes journalism students (aged 21 to 25) or recent graduates in the fields of journalism and communications from the continents of Africa, the Americas, Asia, Oceania and Europe, right into the heart of the multi-sport event for its entire duration; with full access to the competition venues and the Main Press Centre. Over this fortnight, participants are immersed in a multi-cultural learning experience that challenges them in many different ways.
At each edition of the FISU World University Games, the international Young Reporters are joined by journalism peers from the host nation. All Young Reporters receive both, general and specialised training in various aspects of reporting and the coverage of major events such as the FISU Games. The course programme looks at what makes a good human interest story, how to produce news stories under tight deadlines, when to look for background detail and why accuracy and fairness still remain the cornerstones of reporting.
Since it began at the Summer Universiade 2011, the Young Reporters Programme has been a smashing success. The young journalists bring a fresh perspective to the storytelling. The students have full credential access to the Athlete Village and competition venues, just like any other professional journalist. With this access, the Young Reporters in the past, have shown an uncanny ability to take audiences behind the scenes, discovering diamond-in-the-rough storylines.
Six (6) candidates will be selected by FISU, preference will be given to students of Journalism, Public Relations or Communication aged 19-25 years, who have completed at least one (1) year of university studies.
Recent graduates working in entry-level positions in news and media organisations are also strongly encouraged to apply. Candidates must be available from 15-30 August 2021.
In addition to six (6) candidates selected by FISU, ten (10) will be selected by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) and four (4) photo and video journalists will be selected through an open contest on the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games official website: www.2021chengdu.com/en.
More information about the online contest will be available shortly.
*All candidates will be notified no later than 18 March 2021
All international applicants must provide the following documents in English (or translated to English if original documents are not in English):
Detailed CV listing applicant’s previous positions, education and experience
Short essay up to five hundred (500) words outlining the candidate’s motivation for applying for the programme
Link(s) to previous work, published work or portfolio
Two (2) reference letters (educational or professional references only)
Coloured copy of passport with validity of at least six (6) months after the Games end (should expire no earlier than February 2022)
Official documentation confirming the level of English knowledge (for those of non-English speaking countries—TOEFL, IELTS or other equivalent certification).
For any further information, please contact media@fisu.net.
During the Summer Universiade 2015 a student reporter from the Czech Republic, Lucie Hrdlickova, met with the day's silver medalist in the 100-meter hurdles, Michelle Jenneke of Australia.
Instead of just focusing the video interview on the Australian’s podium-winning performance, the young reporter chatted with Jenneke about her attention-grabbing warm-up routine. The energy between the interviewer and athlete was infectious. The video then went viral – on YouTube alone, it racked up over half a million views. Among those watching and loving what they saw, was the national Czech television channel, who went onto hire Hrdlickova as a reporter after the Universiade.
While the afternoon and evenings at the Universiade are spent chasing down story leads and editing articles, the young reporters are not outside the school scene entirely. To accelerate the learning of best practices, student reporters attend morning lectures on media-related topics taught by sports reporting veterans.
After five editions of the programme (Shenzhen 2011, Kazan 2013, Gwangju 2015, Taipei 2017, Krasnoyarsk 2019), the value of the Young Reporters Programme is validated by the trajectory of many of these then-aspiring media careers. Alumni now lead key functions in the media and communication industry, such as producer at FOX TV Australia, communication director at a National Olympic Committee, reporter at the Toronto Star and a press officer at a national university sports federation, to name a few.
![]() |
![]() |