By GINGER ANG
brats@thestar.com.my
WE hope you’re ready for more awesome stories, because our next BRATs young journalist camp is coming up!
Every year, we handpick around 100 of Malaysia’s finest aspiring young journalists for three exclusive camps held around the country.
The new kids on the block: The BRATs Raub participants found time in their packed schedules to pose for a picture. Staying at the luxurious Casabrina Resort had definitely helped to lower stress levels. Photos: SAMUEL ONG/The Star
Those chosen for the first camp of the year were treated to an incredible four-day stay at the luxurious Casabrina Resort in Raub, Pahang – all while being mentored by professional journalists from R.AGE and The Star!
Wait, did we mention they also played with elephants and rode through the jungle on a convoy of open-top pickup trucks?
BRATs Raub participants got up close and personal with these big grey beasts at the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary. But it wasn’t all fun and games – they had to clean out the elephants’ stalls and feed them brunch, too! Photo: SAMUEL ONG/ The Star
The camp was just the latest in a long, long line of awesome BRATs events (we’ve been around since 1993!). At last year’s BRATs Langkawi camp, for example, the participants partied with penguins, sailed the Andaman and jammed with Bob Marley-esque buskers on Pantai Cenang. Assignments in paradise? Only with the BRATs!
The participants from BRATs Malacca workshop interviewed Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum curator, Melissa Chan and lead tour guide, Christina Ong. The house, having been in Chan’s family for five generations, was turned into a museum in 1985 and it showcases an array of furniture and traditional costumes to provide insight into the lifestyle of wealthy Peranakan families in the past. SAMUEL ONG / THE STAR, 18TH SEPTEMBER 2014.
Sounds fun? Well we’re looking for another group of talented young journalists for our next camp in Johor Baru on June 3-6. That’s right! You, too, could be a BRATs teen journalist! To sign up:
1) Download the application forms at rage.com.my/bratsrecruitment.
2) Write an essay on “why I want to be a journalist” in less than 1,000 words.
3) Email the completed forms and essay to us at brats@thestar.com.my
When you get there, a group of R.AGE journalists will be on hand to teach you the basics of journalism, with the help of a few senior BRATs (like yours truly). But it’s not going to be all about writing – we’ll also school you in things like photography, videography, interviewing skills, journalism ethics, responsible reporting and so much more!
What comes after? You’ll put your newly-acquired skills to the test on exciting assignments. Your articles, photos and videos will then be published right here in The Star.
So, you got what it takes?
The BRATs young journalist programme is one of the R.AGE team’s favourite projects! How else would they get to play with elephants, sail the high seas and (don’t tell their bosses) get four days away from the office? =P For more info, click here.
Tell us what you think!