Creator of the children’s sports magazine, Full throttle journalist Myriam Alizon was selected by the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs (Drac) to implement an educational project inspired by the Olympic Games.
The aim was to allow CM2 and sixth grade students to discover the media and press professions, to learn about the stages of developing a magazine and interview techniques. During the year, during the workshops led by Myriam Alizon and her husband, Gilles, himself a journalist, the children welcomed Jean Laudet, from Nevers, former Olympic champion in two-seater canoeing. They had the chance to be welcomed at the Canoë Club de Nevers, at the Cercle Nevers Escrime and to be able to talk with the rugby players of USON Nevers playing in Pro D2, after a training session.
All their investigations led to the production of a twenty-four page magazine entitled The flame and distributed in two hundred copies. Recently completed, it was presented to all the students, teachers and parents. A great moment of pride for the budding journalists.
“We first had to make people understand what information is, how to find it and, above all, verify it by cross-referencing sources. Finally, the adventure, supported by Natacha Chabot, the school’s director, and Lucile Paumier, a documentalist at the Le Mont-Châtelet school complex, was very enriching for the children. They dared. We enjoyed working with them on current affairs on the eve of the Olympic Games,” said Myriam Alizon.
In turn, the children discussed their role in creating the cover logo, looking for information on the Olympic and Paralympic flames, interviewing Emmeline Ndongue from Nièvre, silver medalist in basketball in 2012, revealing the secrets of the Botte de Nevers, recalling the atmosphere of the Olympic Games in the time of Jean Laudet, reserving a comic strip for doping control, noting the exploits of La Nièvre en or since 1908 and closing The flame on a beautiful image of the Uson.
Olivier Pierre, educational advisor, and Héléna Cire, departmental inspector of National Education, congratulated the facilitators and children for producing a magazine which revealed young talents, in a motivating educational approach.
