Special News is a youth-led media project in Liguria, Italy, that shares interviews and stories from across the Special Olympics community to raise awareness and promote social inclusion. The team produced video and written interviews with athletes, partners, and public figures, publishing them online to amplify the voices of people with intellectual disabilities.
Lucrezia Parodi and Chiara Petrozzi were inspired by their experiences with Eunike and the Special Olympics movement, where they saw how media could spotlight achievements and build empathy. Motivated by a desire to involve more youth and reach decision-makers, they launched a project blending journalism, advocacy, and inclusion.
The team created a structured editorial calendar and used digital tools to coordinate interviews, edit content, and share stories through social media and press releases. Interviews featured athletes, political leaders, coaches, and Unified teams, helping frame disability inclusion as a vital local and national issue.
The project engaged 8 people directly, including 3 Special Olympics athletes, and reached over 500 people per video through social media, local news outlets, and public events. It expanded programming in 2 Unified Schools and helped increase community interest in Eunike’s ongoing inclusion work.
The leaders say they gained confidence in public speaking, strengthened international connections, and learned how to plan, publish, and promote meaningful stories. They are especially proud of the attention their work received—from schools to Parliament—and the relationships built through the interviews.