Ubersavvy - Generation Y Ask "Why Media?"

Ubersavvy - Generation Y Ask "Why Media?"

The yMedia Challenge is the pilot project of newly formed yMedia Group, which aims to produce highly qualified graduates while connecting not-for-profit groups to Generation Y.

yMedia have attracted three major sponsors: The Tindall Foundation, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Microsoft who were all inspired by the concept.

The yMedia Challenge is a two-week competition from October 29th – November 9th. The NPOs and students will present their solutions in front of an industry panel to see how well the organisation engaged with the innovations the students suggest." There will be over $22,000 worth of prizes, 6 student teams, 6 not-for-profit groups over 2 weeks.

On Saturday 27 October, the UberSavvy conference (www.ubersavvy.co.nz) will be held in Auckland. This is where students and NPOs will come together to hear inspiring leaders, brainstorm possible digital solutions, and share knowledge and ideas.

The following is two intensive weeks in which students will consolidate their ideas and prepare their presentations for the judging panel.

The panelist of industry professionals, who will judge the final entries, include: Che Tamahori, Shift Web Design, Jake Fitter, Saatchi & Saatchi, Lelane Fourie, Saatchi & Saatchi, Natasha Hall, trademe.co.nz, Nathan Torkington, Open Source Convention Nigel Parker, Microsoft.

Thanks to funding from the Tindall Foundation, the grand-prize winner will receive $2000. All teams will walk away with a $1000 cash prize and a Microsoft Expressions Studio suite.

Saatchi & Saatchi will offer the winning team a highly prized placement in their world leading digital creative department.

"Saatchi & Saatchi believe in the importance of strong, integrated advertising campaigns and are very pleased to work with yMedia to expand the opportunities for NPO and tertiary students in the field of digital marketing. With this placement, they will have the opportunity to work on New Zealand's best known and best loved brands, right alongside the country's best digital creative teams," says Jen Rolfe, General Manager of Saatchi & Saatchi Digital Direct and yMedia Advisor.

More valuable than money, students will have gain real-world experience in hearing an organisation's needs and interpreting them for a digital application.

The yMedia Group was formed in May this year by Pamela Minett and Adele Barlow, recent media graduates who wanted to create more effective relationships for students integrating real-world experience and industry links to media training institutions.

"The Internet has changed the way we relate to other people," says Adele Barlow. "Today's young people still care about community, but to them, 'community' means Bebo and Facebook."

"Instead of forcing young people off their computers, the not-for-profit groups need to be brought into the digital space," says Pamela Minett.

The yMedia Group will be presenting at the Digital Future Summit in November, alongside Minister for Communications and Information Technology David Cunliffe and Minister for Economic Development Trevor Mallard.

Other advisory board members for the yMedia goup include Paul Minett, business analyst, Janet Mazenier, the Digital Strategy Programme Manager, Clare O'Leary, documentary filmmaker and digital strategist, Eve Bay Studio and Cherrie Kong, Founding Head of the Tech Angel project, Wellington Girls College, and currently a biotechnology student at Auckland University.

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