Nine young professional journalists are showing how radio sports coverage can be revamped and engaging for younger audiences through a unique opportunity provided by Euroradio (operated by the EBU), the International Biathlon Union (IBU) and the European Section of the International Sport Press Association (AIPS-Europe).

The Young Radio Reporters programme was launched in November 2013 with the aim of giving rookie radio reporters access to the biggest biathlon events in the world and free range to explore new, multimedia approaches to covering the sport.

As a result, the IBU has acquired fresh, innovative content and given much needed experience to a demographic of junior-level media professionals.

Peer Lange, the Communication Director of the International Biathlon Union, reiterated his support for the project: “While biathlon is a very telegenic sport, we also see the possibilities in spreading the popularity of the sport through radio – which is very conducive to listening to while driving or being active.  Also, letting young people have a look at our sport, giving us feedback how they experience world class biathlon as well as our media output is invaluable. We expect them to be part of the ‘brainpool’ for further developments.

EBU Member Czech Radio was the first to embrace and launch this project, giving 27-year-old Klára Hausmannová full access to the 2013 Biathlon World Championships in Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic.  Her interviews, along with those of the other selected Young Radio Reporters, are available to interested broadcasters on the IBU Media Information System.

The real breakthrough, according to Christophe Pasquier, the Euroradio Project Coordinator, is the manner in which younger reporters naturally gravitate to an astonishing range of social media tools, and use them to fill out sports coverage.

“There is a media evolution taking place that young professionals have fully embraced, and sports storytelling has taken on new dimensions. Take for instance, all the behind the scenes material found on Twitter (#YRRproject) – including photos with Olympic gold medalist Martin Fourcade, travel diaries, interactive venue maps and more. This is the type of content big broadcasters have not necessarily developed, but comes second nature to the social media-savvy generation,“ he said.

Pasquier added that given the success of this endeavor, and the benefits to all parties involved, the EBU is looking into similar projects with partner sports federations, Member broadcasters and, of course, promising young sports journalists.

Three more Biathlon World Cup events will be covered by the Young Radio Reporters in March 2014.