Costa del Sol calls for sport journalism students

A team of sport journalism students from Teesside University is heading to Spain on an assignment to cover this weekend’s International Quizzing Championships.

The event will feature quizzing heavyweights such as Paul Sinha, star of The Chase, Pat Gibson, who won the £1m prize in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and Ronny Swiggers, individual champion at last year’s event.

Joining them will be three of Teesside University’s second-year BA (Hons) Sport Journalism students – Danny Nicholson, Jacob Raw and Ben Rowell, who will be reporting on the international competition.

The students were invited by event organiser Jane Allen, who was impressed with their work as a guest in a recent seminar.

Jane told the students that the event was the pinnacle of competitive quizzing.

She said: “This is a quiz run as a sport, and it’s mind-bendingly difficult.

“Participants train for these events like an athlete would for a world championship - but in this case it is a sport of the mind.”

Jane offered the students the opportunity to test their journalism skills at the forthcoming event, held in Torremolinos.

They will be producing social media content, press releases, match reports and features for the event, which runs across three days from Friday 3 November.

As well as providing content for the event, the students will be using the opportunity to hone their skills in interviewing.

Danny Nicholson, 21, said: “I’m looking forward to getting out there and creating some content.

“I pride myself on my general knowledge, so I’m hoping to take on some of the participants at the quiz while I’m there, but I’m realistic about my chances.”

Jacob Raw, 19, smiled: “It feels like Quizmas has come early.

“It’s a brilliant opportunity and a good chance to represent the University abroad.

“It will allow me to develop my skills in a real-world, high-profile environment. It’s a prestigious event, and I’m just delighted to be going.”

Teesside University offers outstanding provision for media and journalism, with a focus on delivering opportunities for students to engage in real-world, practical experience as well as providing access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.

The journalism courses are accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), which means students can study for additional professional qualifications alongside a degree at no extra cost.

Jim Entwistle, Senior Lecturer on the Sport Journalism course, said: “We’re always on the lookout for meaningful experiences and opportunities for our students – and they don’t come bigger than the International Quizzing Championships.

“It’s a unique assignment but one that Danny, Ben and Jacob are more than up to, and we’re hugely grateful to Jane for this chance.”

Jane added: “We want to have a relationship with the University that is symbiotic – we are getting access to the talents of these students, and the students are getting chance to develop their skills at the same time. Everyone’s a winner.”

The students will be publishing on www.quizzing.com and its social media platforms, as well as writing for Teesside University’s blog.

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