Bridgestone e-reporter open for entries Chance for European students aged 18-30 to kick-start a career in journalism 11 finalists to attend GP2 Series or MotoGP race weekends Bridgestone has today announced that the 2009 Bridgestone e-reporter competition for young aspiring journalists is now open for entries. As the contest enters its sixth year, the e-reporter initiative continues to provide students from across Europe with invaluable journalistic experience, also helping finalists to establish long-term careers in the media. In 2009, Bridgestone will give 11 finalists, chosen by an international panel of judges, the opportunity to attend a MotoGP or GP2 Series race weekend. Whilst on-event the finalists will be able to interview top riders and drivers, writing articles that will be published on the Bridgestone website. European students aged 18-30 and in full time education, on any educational course, have the chance to enter this unique competition. Whether entrants have a passion for motorsport, or are simply keen writers, they can submit their entry online at www.bridgestone.eu/e-reporter anytime before Tuesday 31 March 2009. Entrants are required to demonstrate their ability to write a newsworthy story and develop creative interview questions. Bridgestone is keen to make the competition as accessible as possible to students from all over Europe, opening up the contest by allowing this year’s entries to be submitted in English, Dutch, French, German, Polish, Spanish or Portuguese. Bridgestone e-reporter aims to help talented young writers to develop their skills, whilst also providing students with the chance of a lifetime as they become part of the Bridgestone team at a MotoGP or GP2 race event. The overall winner of this year’s e-reporter competition, chosen for their ability to represent the Bridgestone brand and demonstrate their journalistic skills, will be awarded with a laptop, plus further work experience. Each year of the competition, winners and finalists have gone on to secure full-time jobs within the media as a direct result of their involvement with Bridgestone e-reporter. Examples of media outlets that e-reporter graduates now write for include Autoklub (Poland), Autosport (UK), Autosport es Formula (Hungary), Bild Motorsport (Germany), Crash.net (UK), De Telegraaf (Netherlands), F1GrandPrix.it (Italy), F1i (Belgium), Formula 1 Race Report (Netherlands), ITV-F1.com (UK), L’Alsace (France) and Sport Magazine (UK). Finalists from previous years have come from all over Europe including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, Malta, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Poland, Switzerland, Ireland and the UK. Commenting on Bridgestone e-reporter and the aims of the competition, Gerry Duffy, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Bridgestone Europe, said, “Bridgestone is continually looking at ways to invest in the community and is very proud of the e-reporter programme and its achievements in terms of developing careers. In 2008 we celebrated five years of e-reporter, and in 2009 we look forward to involving 11 e-reporter finalists in what will be an exciting year for Bridgestone across Formula One, MotoGP and the GP2 Series. It is also an exciting development to allow entrants to write in a choice of seven different languages, so we expect to see an increase in entries yet again this year. “ For further information on the 2009 Bridgestone e-reporter competition, or to submit an entry, visit www.bridgestone.eu/e-reporter. The closing date for entries is Tuesday 31 March 2009.