inetta 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, and is launched at the Oulton Park round of the Michelin Ginetta GT SuperCup and Ginetta Junior Championship.
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 academys 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 websitewww.JAMedia.info.
Lawrence Tomlinson, Chairman of Ginetta, said: This extension to our very successful partnership with Michelin enables us to further our commitment to supporting young people in motorsportwhether that be on, or off, the grid.
Our young reporters already have talent, and our aim is to develop that ability and enable them to see what goes on in the media to make a race weekend tick. Without the media, be it broadcast, online, print, Twitter or Facebook, fans all around the world would have no idea what is happening on and around the track. It is a vital part of our world and were very proud to be bringing these youngsters into it.
Michelin Commercial Director, Malcolm Scovell, added: Motorsport is the cutting edgethe rocket science of the automotive industry, with nearly every new piece of performance and safety technology in cars and tyres on the road today developed on the worlds motor racing circuits. Without the media to tell the world about these amazing advances and developments, it wouldnt mean an awful lot. Thats why we are very proud to offer young people all over the UK the opportunity to get involved and join our Academy and hopefully make a career for themselves in motorsport. We spend a lot of time at work, and it really helps if this time is spent doing something that we love.
Interested schools and tutors should visit the www.JAMedia.info website and sign up for more information.
