Navarro was chosen for his excellent ability to produce written race reports, conduct interviews with drivers, team managers and series personnel, and for his professional journalistic approach in the paddock and around the
GP2 teams. He will carry on his work with Bridgestone by continuing to cover Bridgestone-backed events for the remainder of 2008. Moreover, the Frenchman was awarded with a laptop computer and work experience at a European motorsport magazine.
Bridgestone
e-reporter is a pan-European competition for students striving for a career in sports journalism. Aimed at students across Europe aged from 18 to 30 and in full-time education, it offers up-and-coming writers the opportunity to report on
GP2 and to develop their journalistic talent with first-hand experience at a European grand prix.
The eight other finalists this year were Gavin Grace (Ireland), Lorenzo Quolantoni (Switzerland), Olivier Cougard (France), James Aitcheson (UK), Alan NG (Germany), Tabatha Valls Halling (Spain), Rutger Wuyts (Belgium) and Tom Drew (UK).
Since its launch in 2003, the Bridgestone
e-reporter programme has continued to grow in popularity, with more students entering the competition year-on-year from an increasing number of European countries. The initiative has also continued to prove that it is committed to launching journalistic careers, with numerous Bridgestone
e-reporters securing jobs within the media as a direct result of their involvement.
It is testament to the
e-reporter programme that past and present finalists have been writing, either full-time or as contributors, for high-profile European media outlets including
Crash.net (UK), Autoklub (Poland), Autosport (UK), Autosport es Formula (Hungary), Bild Motorsport (Germany), De Telegraaf (Netherlands), F1i (Belgium),
Formula 1 Race Report (Netherlands),
ITV-F1.com (UK), L'Alsace (France) and Sport Magazine (UK).
“We were presented with a difficult task judging the Bridgestone
e-reporter finalists this year,” remarked
Sky Sports broadcaster Tony Jardine, a member of the judging panel. “The calibre of the nine finalists was extremely high.
“The winner, Guillaume Navarro, is exactly what we are looking for in a strong candidate. His creative writing, his never-ending enthusiasm to get the job done, his curiosity and his ability to seize opportunities have made him the Bridgestone
e-reporter 2008.”
“We were proud to celebrate five years of Bridgestone
e-reporter in 2008 at the Italian Grand Prix, as the competition goes from strength-to-strength,” added Bridgestone Europe vice-president of sales & marketing, Gerry Duffy. “We are committed more than ever to education and providing students with the opportunity to develop their talent as young journalists, helping them in their step-up to becoming successful writers. It was a real celebration for Bridgestone, showcasing what the Bridgestone
e-reporter programme has achieved across Europe.”
The 2009 contest is set to be launched on 15 December, 2008.
