Ginetta and Michelin launch Junior Academy of Media
Ginetta and Michelin have launched an inspiring new initiative aimed at educating and encouraging young people to consider the breadth of careers within motorsport.
The Junior Academy of Media (JAM), powered by Michelin and Ginetta (see www.JAMedia.info), is aimed at secondary school students aged from 12 to 16 years.
JAM has been in the planning stages since late 2012, and in recent weeks Michelin and Ginetta have embarked on a nationwide tour of schools to meet young people and tell them about the breadth of careers available in motorsport. The academy’s main focus is on careers in motorsport media, including race photography, reporting, commentating, PR and marketing.
The companies visit schools in the regions of race circuits on the Ginetta Championship calendar, with visits made in Yorkshire, Cheshire and Hampshire, and more to follow around the following races; Croft (Yorkshire), Snetterton (Norfolk), Knockhill (Fife), Rockingham (Northamptonshire), Silverstone (Northamptonshire) and Brands Hatch (Kent).
Schools are visited by a team of media experts from Michelin and Ginetta, equipped with a race car, tyres and other racing and safety equipment, with students asked to consider themselves journalists for the day and to write a report on the visit. The school then selects some of the best pieces of homework, with the authors invited to become part of the academy and join Michelin and Ginetta as race-day reporters at the next race in their locality.
Over 300 students have been seen by the academy so far, with many now signed up to become junior reporters and photographers on the Ginetta Junior Championship. The students’ work (written, video and photography) is posted on the new JAM website – www.JAMedia.info.