NEWS UNIT: PACKAGE WORKSHOP

European Wheelchair Rugby League Championships coming to Medway

Workshop focussed on developing how to make a good package fit for a news channel. The goal was to plan what to do with a news article given to us and make it into a 1:45min long package. 

So our article was a local piece from Medway Matters detailing the European Wheelchair Rugby League champs coming to Medway Park. Wheelchair rugby league is a sport similar to rugby league in that get 6 tackles to try and score a try over the opposition try line. It is a sport which is dwarfed by Wheelchair Rugby (like rugby union) which has a much greater standing in the world with 25 countries competing worldwide and spreading from Canada to New Zealand. It is a paralympic recognised sport and is seen as a major sport at the Paralympic games. Unlike Wheelchair rugby league which at the European champs only had 5 countries competing England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and France. 

The great thing about this event is it is bringing a sport to Medway and also encouraging young people to watch and therefore be inspired by offering free tickets to U16's. The difference for Wheelchair rugby league is that it allows able bodied and disabled people to participate alike unlike Wheelchair rugby which is only designated for disabled persons.

Taking this on into a package our plan was to have a reporter giving the sport a go by getting in a wheelchair and being roughed up a bit. The reporters job would also be to illustrate the dates and what takes place in the event. Our interview would be with Sports minister Tracy Crouch who we would hope would outline what the event is bringing to the local area and how it is encouraging young people to get involved.