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    School of Journalism & Media

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    A student holds a camera steady on a unipod behind the wall separating him from the wheelchair curling match in front of him while he shoots the event.

    Students covering the

    2026 Paralympic Games

    A cohort of 10 students from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and two UT School of Journalism and Media faculty members spent a week reporting on the ground at the Winter Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in partnership with the USA TODAY Network. Before traveling to Italy, they built a strong foundation in Knoxville through research on the para sport movement, Winter Games disciplines, and Team USA athletes. Students connected with athletes and coaches, conducted pre-interviews, and shaped story pitches that emphasized the value of Para sport coverage.

    Learn About the 2026 Paralympics Cohort

    Celebrating the Games

    Students covered stories big and small, from explaining the history of the Paralympic Games logo to which emoji Para athletes would use to describe how they feel before competing.

    In this section:

    Two women recording in front of the illuminated Milan Cathedral at night, with a camera on a tripod.
    The image shows a woman focused on taking a photograph with a large, white telephoto lens camera. She is standing near a glass railing overlooking a crowded stadium filled with people seated in rows. The woman is wearing a light gray long-sleeve shirt and jeans, and has a camera strap around her neck with a light blue pouch around her waist. Her hair is tied back in a bun. In the blurred background, spectators fill the seats, creating a bustling atmosphere.

    On the Ice

    The student journalists took to the ice to provide in-depth reporting on sled hockey and wheelchair curling; from match coverage to behind-the-scenes features that show just what it takes to be a Para Athlete on ice.

    In this section:

    Snow Sports

    Whether it was hitting the slopes for alpine skiing, watching snowboarders twist and flip, or waiting on the sidelines to watch grueling cross-country skiing treks, students highlight the Para athletes who have made snow their sport.

    In this section:

    A woman in a red jacket crouches on snowy ground, focusing her camera. Behind her are ski lifts and a snowy mountain.

    Questions about the Paralympics Project? Contact us!

    Smiling woman with dark hair, wearing a light shirt with a pink and black dotted pattern, silver earrings, against a plain white background.

    Erin Whiteside

    Professor, Graduate Programs Coordinator for the School of Journalism and Media

    865-974-8498

    [email protected]

    Erin Whiteside’s profile

    Three people sitting at an outdoor café table; one man in a colorful jacket on the left and two women with coats on the right, one of whom holds a camera.
    A person in a white jacket focuses intently while typing on a laptop in a bustling sport arena setting. He's wearing a lanyard with several pins on it and has blonde hair. There are people blurred in the background.