EU funds young talent project U-Media

The development of the next generation of sports media professionals in Germany and Europe is receiving a major boost following a European Union decision to select a pioneering project of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games for Erasmus+ funding.

Beginning in October and running through to the end of the FISU Games in July 2025, the project titled ‘U-Media’ will provide young reporters, photographers, and commentators with a comprehensive resource of practical advice, tips, and best practice curated by industry experts.

U-Media will complement the existing FISU Young Reporters programme, which was launched by the International University Sports Federation in 2011 and has been taking a team of aspiring sports journalists to each edition of the FISU Games for on-site assignments.

“The U-Media initiative aims to transform the World University Games into a dual-purpose platform, functioning both as an educational portal and a dynamic sports media outlet,” Maksim Berdnikov, the media services manager for Rhine Ruhr 2025 FISU Games gGmbH, said.

“Our goal as a media services team is to leave a legacy for young people interested in sports journalism and to ensure professional global coverage of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU Games through a team of trained students. This funding will allow us to achieve both of these goals.” A total of EUR 60,000 is now being earmarked for the U-Media project by Erasmus+, the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth, and sport in Europe.

Running for ten months, U-Media will feature a series of educational activities within universities - such as lectures and seminars - and open source online workshops and webinars. Partners include the University of Porto in Portugal as well as Hochschule der Medien in Stuttgart, University of Tübingen, and the AWO Südwest gGmbH (T_OHR).

All of the activities are being strategically designed to prepare student reporters for professional assignments at university sports events.

“The Erasmus+ funding will allow us to take on six students from Germany and another six from within Europe, developing their skills and realising their potential as sports media stars of the future,” Berdnikov said.

“For the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, these U-Media ambassadors will join the wider team of Young Sports Media Talents - an international team of student reporters, photographers, and audio-descriptive commentators - which will be selected through a global recruitment campaign.

“Through the publication of their pieces, students will gain valuable real-world feedback, allowing them to refine their craft and develop their professional skills further.”

Students wishing to participate in public educational activities through U-Media and apply for a Games-time role should stay tuned to the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU Games website in October 2024, when the project will be launched.

Title photo: D.LIVE/Kenny Beele