Budding Reporters Encouraged To Enter BBC Wales Today Competition

BBC Wales Today is offering budding young reporters across Wales the unique opportunity to produce and broadcast their own news story, to be shown on BBC ONE Wales' flagship news programme.
Following the success of reality shows such as BBC ONE's Fame Academy and BBC TWO's The Apprentice, BBC Wales Today recently launched News Academy on its programme on BBC ONE Wales. Presenter Jason Mohammad will be back at his old school to announce the details of the competition. The competition is open to pupils in schools and colleges across Wales between the ages of 11 and 18.
Everyone who enters has to come up with a story or issue that they want to share with the nation. Once all the entries are in, Wales Today will pick two finalists from five regions across Wales to compete in News Academy.
The ten finalists will be invited to Cardiff to put their ideas to a judging panel of BBC presenters, including Jason Mohammad, who will then choose a winner from each region.
For the five winners, a place in News Academy means that they get a BBC camera for two weeks and a mentor who will help them film and edit their story.
They can involve as many people as they like from their school or college in the filming and the final five films will be broadcast on Wales Today.
Jason Mohammad said: "It's going to be great fun - we're appealing to every teenager to give it a shot - and we're really looking forward to seeing some of their ideas."
"It's going to be a fantastic opportunity to hear young voices on Wales Today, and see what stories matter to them," commented BBC Wales Head of News, Mark O'Callaghan.
To get involved in News Academy, budding young reporters should log on to the BBC Wales Today website at www.bbc.co.uk/walestoday and click News Academy to download an application form.
The web page is running from Monday 2 October. Entries need to be in by Friday 20 October.
(DS/SP)