Young Cayman reporter shines at Youth Games

(CNS Business): A 22-year-old journalist from the Caymanian has received a prestigious award from the International Olympic Committee. Jade Webster, who currently works as the Communication Officer of the non-profit Young Caymanian Leadership Foundation, received the Steve Parry Award for the Best International Olympic Committee Young Reporter at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

Webster was selected by the IOC to represent the Americas in a three-week training programme, where the IOC Young Reporters covered sports events and trained in all journalistic disciplines – magazine editorial, print, broadcast, photography and social media.

“Overwhelmed was the first thing I felt when I began the programme, but as I went through each day learning about the sports, about the mentors and about my teammates, it got easier,” she said in a release from the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee.

Webster’s stories ranged from athlete profiles to traditional sports stories, including an article she wrote about Cayman Equestrian Polly Serpell winning a bronze medal in an equestrian team event. Three of her stories were published on the official website for the Youth Olympic Games.

“Writing stories on athletes was just amazing, but having the chance to interview and write about a Cayman athlete at the Youth Olympic Games in the Youth Olympic Village was an exceptional experience” she said.

She reported on sporting events such as rowing, trampoline gymnastics and equestrian and her photographs of Cayman’s sailors were also published on the IOC Young Reporter’s media websites, such as Flickr and Facebook. With the help of the Young Reporters team, Webster created a 5-minute video on football through the Olympic Village with 5 Samsung phones and Google Glass, during her time with her social media mentor.

“Attending these events, and watching the emotions on these young athletes faces have inspired me. I’ve discovered a love for sports and for personal stories. These Games have shown that it isn’t all about winning; it is about those exact moments, that exact race and that motivation that drives these athletes to the finish line. Being a part of that and witnessing it makes it so much more personal.”

Webster has had the opportunity to be interviewed by the Chinese press, the Algerian Press and the IOC on her experience as a young reporter at the Games.

“It is hard to describe this experience. It’s an opportunity that is rarely given and to have been selected by the IOC to represent not only the Americas but also my home, is magnificent. I couldn’t have done this without the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee recognizing my abilities and putting me forward as an Ambassador. What an honor!”

She added, “Co-winning the Steve Parry Award for the Best Reporter is a remarkable ending to a remarkable journey.”

The IOC will be selecting 15 young reporters next year to cover the Youth Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer 2018. The IOC will also provide positive accreditation to all young reporters who wish to attend the 2016 Rio Olympic Games with their news agencies or NOC’s.

“This programme has opened so many doors for me. I’m on an Olympic ‘high’ and I don’t want it to end,” Webster said.

Category: Education & Training, Local Business, Media