The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) has announced the shortlist for its Young MMA Journalists Competition as follows:
- James Eakin (England)
- Joe Leigh (England)
- Daniyal Nasir (Pakistan)
- Jasmin Osman (Georgia)
- Michael Owens (England)
- Ross Patterson (Scotland)
- James Sweetnam (England)
- Erik Uebelacker (USA)
Launched in January, the competition awards two ultimate winners with the opportunity to report on the 2021 IMMAF World Championships in Kazakhstan under the training and mentorship of a senior journalist with decades of experience in covering elite, international sport, with all costs covered by IMMAF. The winners’ coverage of the action and news around the championships will be published on official IMMAF platforms.
Non-professional MMA journalists of under the age of 27 from around the world were invited to apply, with written and/or audio-visual submissions.
Speaking on behalf of IMMAF’s Marketing and Communications Commission, Award-winning Olympic journalist, former Associated Press editor and mentor for the IOC Young Reporters’ Programme, Steve Wilson, explained the motivation for the competition as reflecting “the global, youth-oriented focus of the IMMAF and its commitment to developing the MMA journalists of the future.”
The shortlisted entrees now pass to the final judging phase with two ultimate winners to be selected by the panel of experienced journalists and media professionals on IMMAF’s Marketing and Communications Commission. Entrants will be judged on the quality of their submissions, their demonstrated enthusiasm and long-term promise and potential. The two winners of the IMMAF Young Journalist Competition will be announced at the end of June 2021.
IMMAF Brand & Communications Director, Izzy Carnwath, commented: “We have been overwhelmed by the calibre of the young journalists who have applied, and it is has been challenging for the first-round judges to arrive at the shortlist. The competitiveness of the final eight entrees is extremely high, and the judges will have close calls to make in determining the ultimate winners. We have been genuinely excited by the quality of upcoming talent covering the sport which promises a bright future for MMA journalism as it continues to grow and with it, hopefully, more professional opportunities.”
