Thailand's top journalism trainees are off to the BBC for more coaching

On the left stands Sikharin Langkulsen, 20, from Mahidol University's International College. On the right, Navkiran Naran, 23, who has travelled from Sydney University in Australia.

Although they come from universities in different parts of the world, they're both headed in the same direction. In June, both will begin a three-week course in journalism at BBC headquarters in London, being trained by the British Broadcasting Corporation's professional staff.

Their big chance didn't just drop out of the sky - both young women had to work hard to get it. They are winners of the True Vision-BBC Future Journalist Award 2007-08.

Navkiran says it was her determination to become a journalist that drove her in the competition.

"You can use journalism - especially television journalism - to help people that need help. For instance there are people in Pakistan who have to sell their kidneys for money," she says. "If you work for TV and you bring that news to life, a lot of people will care about it and will want to help."

Sikharin tried for the big prize because she wants to improve the standard of journalism in Thailand.

"I see a lot of news reporting on the Thai government that is quite biased," she says. "I want to go to England and learn more about how they work to get correct and unbiased news. On my return I want to use what I learn here."

Considering that both already have overseas-study experience (Navkiran is currently studying in Australia and Sikharin spent her entire high-school life in New Zealand), it's easy to believe that English-language skills were the key to their success. Not so, say both winners.

"The project is not testing our English, but training us to be journalists," Navkiran says, and Sikharin confirms that the key attribute for the contest was a wide-ranging knowledge of news and current affairs.

"You had to know as many news subjects as possible. It was not possible to prepare by following just one current 'hot' issue or subjects in which you were interested. You never know what news topic the committee is going to select for questions in the test."

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The story so far

>> Before heading off to university studies in Australia, Navkiran was a student at the New International School of Thailand. She speaks five languages: English, Thai, Hindi, Punjabi and French.

>> Sikharin once worked as a reporter for Channel 11's "Morning Talk" Programme, on eight episodes of its "Health" section.