The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) is pleased to announce its first annual Young MMA Journalists Competition.
Two winners will be awarded the opportunity to report on the 2021 IMMAF World Championships in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan in November /December 2021 (TBA), under the training and mentorshipof a senior journalist with decades of experience in covering elite, international sport. Travel, accommodation and routine daily costs will be covered by the IMMAF.
The winners’ written and audio-visual work about the action and news around the championships will be published on official IMMAF platforms.The journalists will receive training, remotely in advance of the event as well as onsite, also with guidance from IMMAF’s communications team.
The purpose of the competition is to help develop MMA journalists of the future. The project hopes to attract young people from around the world and reflect diversity in both gender and background.
Award-winning Olympic journalist, former Associated Press editor and mentor for the IOC Young Reporters’ Programme, Steve Wilson, commented on behalf of IMMAF’s Marketing and Communications Commission:
“The IMMAF Young Reporters programme reflects the global, youth-oriented focus of the IMMAF and its commitment to developing the MMA journalists of the future. The programme represents the chance of a lifetime for two young journalists to receive professional training and report on the sport’s biggest event. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”
HOW WILL THE REPORTERS BE CHOSEN?
This opportunity is open to any young person worldwide who is not a professional journalist and is 26 or under.
To enter, provide the following to [email protected] by the following date:
- CV – A one-page curriculum vitae or resume detailing your education and any work experience in reporting sport and/or in operating cameras and editing material for audio-visual material.
- SUMMARY – A 250-word summary in English saying why you want to be part of the project and what you hope to do in your future career.
- EXAMPLE OF WORK – A 400-word written story in English OR a selection of edited audio-visual interviews or reports (maximum duration 3 minutes) which you have carried out in reporting MMA or any other sport or live news events.
- PUBLISHED WORK – Links or pdfs of any published works, if applicable
- SOCIAL MEDIA – Links to any key posts on your social channels that you feel would support your submission / illustrate your portfolio / style
The audio-visual interviews can be conducted in another language. The subject matter does not have to be MMA, but the material must have been filmed and edited by the candidate.
The event must be something you have covered in person. It cannot be an event watched on TV, but it could also be any type of interview you have carried out. Any level of MMA or sport can be covered – from school or youth to professional level.
The standard of English for the written work does not need to be perfect but must reflect your ability without significant help from anybody else.
DEADLINE
The competition opens today, 13 January 2021 and closes at midnight GMT on 31 March 2021.
Submissions will be judged by a panel of experienced journalists and media professionals from around the world. Successful candidates will be informed of the results by the end of June 2021.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Entrants will be judged based on the quality of the submissions, their enthusiasm and long-term promise and potential.
ENQUIRIES
For enquiries contact [email protected]
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OFFICIAL RULES (TERMS & CONDITIONS)
By submitting your entry, you confirm that you have read and agree to the terms below (“Rules”).
1. The IMMAF Young Journalists Competition is open to any young person worldwide who is not a professional journalist and is 26 or under.
2. All decisions of the IMMAF Competition organisers and judges are final. After entrants have submitted their work the Competition’s organisers and judges will not enter into any correspondence with entrants on the subject of entries and Awards.
3. All entrants must be persons who are 18 years of age or older on or before 31 March 2021.
4. No entry fee is payable.
5. Applicants must submit all written work in English Language. Applicants can submit video entries in any language but is advisable to include subtitles or submit with an English translation since English is the official language of IMMAF and the common language in which judges’ assessments will be held.
7. Applicants are strictly limited to a maximum of one entry.
8. Videos should be submitted in MP4 format.
9. Entries should be made in accordance with the instructions given in the entry criteria and must be submitted on, or before, 12 pm UTC on March 31, 2021. Entries arriving after this date will not be accepted.
10. It is the responsibility of the entrant to provide complete and accurate information. The IMMAF Awards’ organisers will not be liable for errors or omissions in the entry material.
11. Entries and information contained within any entry (including supporting documents) must have been obtained legally, must not infringe any copyright or other intellectual property rights, must not be defamatory or breach any privacy law, and must not breach any other law or regulation.
15. If an entrant is found to have breached these Rules or acts in any way that brings or would be likely to bring the reputation of the IMMAF into disrepute, the Competition’s organisers reserve the right to disqualify an entrant or to remove or withdraw an Award.
17. The entrant grants the IMMAF unrestricted, unfettered and irrevocable non-exclusive rights in all works submitted for entry into the Competition (or where such rights are owned by a third party, the entrant shall procure that such third party grants such rights) for the IMMAF to use such works only in conjunction with objectives of the Competition including for the purposes of promoting the Competition, presenting the nominations, having the panel of judges determine the winners and making the finalist and winners entries available to the public.
18. Finalists selected by the Jury will be invited to participate in the mentorship programme. The IMMAF shall pay for all flights, and arrange transportation, accommodation and certain scheduled meals/ expenses and will provide visa assistance for the entrant (“Travel Arrangements”). Arrangements will be confirmed with the selected entrant closer to the travel date on the basis of one adult, return flights and hotel accommodation. Travel Arrangements are not transferable, exchangeable nor redeemable for cash.
19. The IMMAF will not be held liable for cancellation or postponement of the Championships event. Where cancellation occurs, IMMAF will offer the mentorship award at a subsequent IMMAF Championships.
20. The IMMAF shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage whatsoever suffered (including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss) or for any loss or damage or personal injury suffered or sustained in connection with the Competition except any liability that cannot be excluded by law. All entrants indemnify IMMAF Competition organisers, IMMAF and their related parties against any loss or damage (either direct, indirect, consequential or otherwise) arising from the entrant’s participation in the Competition.
21. Participation in the IMMAF Young Journalists Competition is not open to IMMAF staff, members of the Jury and IMMAF Committee members.
