2010 News Challenge Application
News Challenge is a cutting-edge training session for college students interested in working in digital media. The program gives them a sense of the multimedia opportunities at newspaper companies as well as visibility among digital professionals and executives who could hire them for internships and/or jobs.
A new program, News Challenge was offered for the first time from May 31 to June 5, 2009, at the University of Nevada, Reno. Fifteen students were selected to participate. During that week, they interacted with digital news executives, advertising and marketing directors, community news advocates, educators and other professionals.
The 2009 class was a varied group by design. Majors ranged from business, advertising and computer science to media management, graphic media and journalism. The group included three graduate students.
The Games
The 2009 News Challenge was a competition of sorts. Students were divided into three teams, with each developing a news game that could enhance understanding of current events while also being fun to play. In doing so, teams had to develop a concept, define the proposed audience, develop a marketing plan and present the business model, outlining revenue potential.
The first game, by Team A, was “Jack Brown, Secret Agent.” In it, Brown (“think James Bond meets ‘24’ “) travels to hot spots around the world while trying to complete different missions such as capturing a Mexican drug lord. The process enables players to increase their awareness of global issues. 
Team Kamal’s entry was “2012: The End Game.” Objectives are to inform players that some historians and enthusiasts believe a world-changing event will occur on Dec. 21, 2012, and to spark conversation. The platform-style game is played by collecting relics on each level and correctly answering questions about “Doomsday” theories concerning this date.
The last game, “Unemployment Joe,” by Team Atoga, was a retro, Pac Man-like game in which a character loses his job and then learns about employment Web sites, how to apply for unemployment benefits, and more. It is also a template that could be adapted to other topics and easily localized.
Students presented their games on the last morning of the program before a panel of judges. It’s safe to say that the three judges (Randy Bennett, senior vice president of business development, NAA; Ted Power, president and publisher, Reno Gazette-Journal; and Larry Dailey, Reynolds Chair of Media Technology, UNR) were blown away by the presentations.
Given the amount of time teams had to work on their games – a few hours each day – what they presented was more conceptual rather than finished product. While each needs more development, all surpassed expectations in terms of sophistication and level of detail.
Comments
“I feel like I have multiple skills, but I don’t feel like I’m a master at anything. Working on a team with people I didn’t sit in class with all semester from many walks of life was very realistic and exciting. My team worked particularly well with one another, and we had a great time developing our game and its vision.”
“Overall, the experience was priceless, and I’m thrilled to have been a part of it. I learned so much about myself, my abilities and the industry I chose. I think everyone left feeling confident about their careers.”
“The program was absolutely wonderful! I was humbled to meet such great people. This is an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. It has truly changed my thought process about the industry.”
2010 News Challenge
The 2010 News Challenge is scheduled for May 30-June 4 at the University of Nevada, Reno. It is open to juniors, seniors and graduate students at accredited colleges as of summer or fall 2010. While the field of study doesn’t matter, applications are especially encouraged from those majoring in advertising, marketing, business, finance, computer science, computer graphics, journalism and communications.
Jeanne Fox-Alston discusses the News Challenge in this episode of the NAA Podcast.
The 2010 application process is still open. The NAA Foundation pays for travel, housing and meals for participating students.
For more information, contact Jeanne Fox-Alston.