Lucy Laycock
Lucy Laycock in the Wadi Rum desert, Jordan. Photo: Lucy Laycock

Two journalism students from the University of Sheffield and University of Westminster have been selected as finalists for the Young Reporters Against Poverty competition.

First year student Katie Davies (Sheffield) and masters broadcast student Lucy Laycock (Westminster) were two of a shortlist of 33 journalism and communications students, initially selected from almost 180 entrants to the contest. They were chosen by Clare MacCarthy of the Economist, the contest's UK media partner for the programme.

The finalists will now attend the European Union's European Development Days, which will be held in Brussels next month, where they will receive training and be able to report on events. The contest website will soon be re-launched as a platform for the finalist's coverage of the European Development Days.

"After receiving hands-on training to assist them in their live reporting of the event, the finalists then have one week to perfect their best article/broadcast, to be presented to a jury of professional journalists and media professionals," the website adds.

"Three overall winners will then be selected for the press trip of a lifetime – to Africa."

Speaking to Journalism.co.uk, Laycock said she was delighted to find out she had been picked as a finalist after submitting an article on sexual violence in the developing world.

"I'm really passionate about the developing world and this competition caught my eye straight away. I have been writing as a journalist since I was columnist for my village paper, the Wetherby News, from the age of 14. I am currently doing an MA in broadcast journalism at University of Westminster.

"I have just come back from the Middle East where I was doing humanitarian work with women and children in remote communities with the support of the British Council and Care International UK, and have travelled extensively during my time at Durham University doing my undergraduate studies (English Literature)."

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