Young reporters lift EHF EURO coverage to new heights

In January next year 16 nations will be vying for the European handball crown at the Men's EHF EURO 2014. Over the course of 15 days 47 matches will display the best the continent's handball has on offer - and eight young reporters will have chance the cover the action together with the EHF Media Team.

For the first time the EHF Media and Communications Department has established a young reporters' programme at its flagship national team event, and over the past weekend the eight successful candidates gathered for a workshop in Aarhus, one of the four hosting cities of the Men's EHF EURO 2014.

"First we would like to give these young reporters an opportunity to cover and experience one of the biggest handball events in the world," says JJ Rowland, EHF Head of Media and Communications.

"Second we see this as a step to increase and improve the media services we can offer to the accredited media and the fans alike, and third we hope to create some legacy by giving these young journalists a chance to be part of the EHF EURO."

Two young reporters will work at each of the four venues alongside the designated EHF Journalist. They will conduct player interviews straight after the matches, cover press conferences and have the opportunity to write features and long reports.

"The interviews from the mixed zone and the press conference highlights will be provided via a portal site to the international media for immediate use in their copy," says Rowland.

"Furthermore having eight young and aspiring journalists as part of our team allows for a new and exciting approach to cover the EHF EURO."

Unique chance to gain experience

The eight young reporters come from all different backgrounds with many of them bringing already some considerable media experience to the EHF EURO.

"I applied for the young reporters' programme because I see it as an unique opportunity to be part of the coverage of the biggest sport event ever at Danish ground," says Anders Bindesbøll who studies at the Danish School of Media and Journalism in Aarhus and currently works for Danish TV DR1.

"For me the young reporters’ programme is a great chance to gain experience. The workshop in Aarhus was a perfect start,"  says Merle Schaack who studies in Gothenburg and who works freelance for German newspaper Kieler Nachrichten where she regularly contributes to the THW Kiel coverage.

"Getting to know the people who I’m going to work with during the tournament and having the opportunity to ask questions and practice the EHF’s way of covering a match made me look even more forward to January."

Jonas Sauermilch, Trine Kristiansen and Benjamin Kastberg, journalism students in either Aarhus or Odense, agree.

"I really hope to become a talented and reputable sports reporter in my future career, so this was a chance I just had to take. It is going to be a huge step for me, and I really look forward to the great experience," says Sauermilch.

"I applied for the job because it is a great opportunity for me to gain some experience as a journalist. I hope to work in sports after I finish my education in journalism, so the EURO can provide a lot of insight," added Kristiansen.

Kastberg said: "As a journalism student experience like this is invaluable, and certainly it will also be a lot of fun. It is sport events like this I have dreamt of working at, so, of course, I couldn't let this chance pass."

The group is completed by Claudia Bisconti, who already works for the KIF Kolding media team in the Danish league and the VELUX EHF Champions League, Janni Krarup, who regularly writes for Danish handball website hbold.dk, and journalism student Ondra Menzel.

"My big dream is to become a sports journalist. So when my friend showed me that the EHF was seeking young reporters for the Men's EURO 2014 in Denmark I had no doubts," says Krarup.

"Handball is my absolute favourite sport no.1. Being able to mix my personal passion with my future dream job at the Men's EURO - I can't see any better opportunity for me."

Hands-on exercise in Ikast

Under the guidance of experienced Danish sports journalist and book author Svend Bertil Frandsen the young reporters gathered for an intense 36 hours in Aarhus on Saturday and Sunday.

They touched on topics such as asking the right questions in the mixed zone, how to come up with attention-grabbing headlines and practised the writing of match reports and features.

It all culminated with a visit to the Danish city of Ikast where the young reporters had the opportunity to use their skills in the coverage of a Women's EHF Champions League match.

Courtesy of FC Midtjylland the group was invited to cover the group matches encounter between the Danish champions and MKS Selgros Lublin from Poland on Sunday.

The first results can already be seen as the match report and a preview article on Midtjylland's expectations for the Women's EHF Champions League Main Round draw on Tuesday, 19 November were published on eurohandball.com and on ehfcl.com.