Wanted: Young newsbreakers

IBA seeks youthful talent for current affairs show for young teens and pre-teens.

By GREER FAY CASHMAN
IBA 311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
IBA 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
The Israel Broadcasting Authority is looking for junior talents to contribute to its new program, “Hamahadura” (The Edition).
The current affairs program on Channel 1 will be geared toward people aged 15 and under – the age group of the reporters who will contribute to the program.
Many of Israel’s leading personalities were journalists in their youth, or in their early adult years. Among them, for instance, were former prime minister Ehud Olmert, Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom, former justice minister Yossi Beilin, former MK Geula Cohen, current Kadima MK Nachman Shai, and internationally acclaimed AIDS expert Dr. Yinon Shenkar. Among those who stayed in the profession after working for Army Radio are such notables as Ilana Dayan, Merav Michaeli and Sivan Rahav Meir, who also worked as a junior reporter before joining the IDF.
In a sense, the IBA is getting ready for future ratings with its new initiative, and is preparing the ground for when its young viewers are adults.
There is also the hope that some of the young talents who become regulars on the program will remain journalists in their adult lives, and stay with IBA.
Youngsters who want to participate should make videotapes of themselves speaking to the camera for not longer than one minute. They can choose to comment or report on topics such as uniforms for school, long school days, reality programs, consumption of alcohol or drug abuse among schoolchildren, and teenage promiscuity, among others.
They should start by introducing themselves by name, then state their subject and what they think.
The video clips submitted will be placed on the IBA’s Internet site to give surfers the opportunity to judge quality and content and to cast a vote. Viewers’ votes will be considered by a panel of judges who are connected to the new program.
Full details of the contest, which at this time is only open to Hebrew speakers, are available at www.iba.org.il/zap. Participants who have questions before they submit a video should address them by e-mail to hamahadura@gmail.com.