Amanda FooDuring the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), amongst the 1200 media personnel that will descend upon our tiny island, there will be 3 outstanding reporters giving the nation a youth’s perspective on the games.
Clarissa Sih Shu Ning, Jean Yong Kaigin and Shehnaz Ameera Bte Mohd Salim have been given the chance to be reporters in YOG after being selected for McDonald’s Young Journalists Programme.
The McDonald’s Young Journalists Programme is a partnership between McDonald’s, Singapore Press Holdings and Mediacorp, supported by the Singapore National Sports Council.
The search for youth reporters started in April. Participants had to submit a 20-second video featuring their “Olympic Moment” and a 100-150 word passage revolving around what they looked forward to about YOG. Finalists were then judged based on their articulation, presentation skills and spontaneity.
The 3 winners expressed disbelief and joy at their win and the chance to cover the YOG.
Clarissa Sih Shu Ning, a student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, stated that “It was always a dream of mine to be a sports presenter and [the hard work] starts now and I’m looking forward to it.”
Guest-Of-Honour Mr Seah Kian Peng, Chairman of the General Parliamentary Committee, MCYS also urged them to “seize this chance with all [their] hearts”.
This isn’t the first time that McDonald’s has supported youth in their passion for journalism. In 2008, McDonald’s sent 3 primary school kids to the Olympic Games in Beijing, where they covered their experiences at the Games.