Athens, Ga. – One hundred college and high school students interested in sports journalism will have a unique opportunity when the NCAA Final Four comes to Atlanta this March.
A sportswriting seminar, sponsored by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), is set for Thursday, March 29, at the University of Georgia. Hosted by UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Georgia Scholastic Press Association, the seminar will give young journalists a chance to get tips from professional sportswriters and apply them as they cover the weekend’s events.
Held in conjunction with the 2007 NCAA Final Four, the seminar will take place in UGA’s Butts-Mehre Auditorium from 9-11:30 a.m.
Upon completion of the seminar, each student will receive press passes to cover various Final Four events including:
· Open practices of the four competing teams at the Georgia Dome on Friday, March 30, noon to 4 p.m.
· The USBWA Player and Coach of the Year Awards Breakfast, Philips Arena, Friday, March 30, 8 a.m.
· A press conference with NCAA President Miles Brand on Friday, March 30, site and time TBD
· The NABC College All-Star game on Friday, March 30, featuring the Harlem Globetrotters vs. College All-Star Team, at Philips Arena
· NCAA “Yes” Clinics at various sites in the Atlanta area, Saturday, March 31
· The NCAA Hoops City Interactive Fan Festival, Georgia Convention Center, March 30-April 2
One student chosen at random will earn a credential to cover the NCAA Final Four championship game on Monday, April 2. Students can write a story about their event and compete for a $1,000 scholarship from USBWA.
The seminar is geared toward students looking to pursue a career in sports journalism. Students are given the opportunity to ask questions and mingle with the panel members following the seminar.
The USBWA provides sportswriters to participate in the panel discussions. Past participants have included nationally-recognized writers such as Bob Ryan of The Boston Globe, John Feinstein of The Washington Post, Alex Wolff of Sports Illustrated, Steve Wieberg of USA Today and Andy Katz of ESPN.
One hundred slots are available for approximately 50 college and 50 high school students. Registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, visit www.grady.uga.edu and click on “USBWA Application” in Quick Links.
Established in 1915, the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication provides seven undergraduate majors including advertising, broadcast news, magazines, newspapers, public relations, publication management and telecommunication arts. The college offers two graduate degrees, and is home to the Knight Chair in Health and Medical Journalism and the Peabody Awards, internationally recognized as one of the most prestigious prizes for excellence in electronic media. For more information, visit www.grady.uga.edu.
