About the role
The Black Swan Newsroom – CREST 15
The Black Swan Newsroom is a fast-paced, high-stakes crisis reporting and strategy competition for CREST 15. When an unexpected global shock (a "Black Swan event") strikes, participating teams act as broadcast news networks comprising journalists, economic analysts, and market strategists.
Their goal is to rapidly analyse the unfolding crisis, explain its macroeconomic mechanics simply to a global audience, and, most importantly, identify the "Beyond Antifragile" insight—spotting which sectors, businesses, or assets stand to profit and win amidst the disruption.
Round 1: Online Quiz / Preliminary Screening
- An online MCQ quiz consisting of 25 questions on Unstop, covering economics, current affairs, and market logic.
- The top 30 teams will advance to Round 2.
Round 2: Case Study & Pitch Deck Submission
After the Black Swan News Brief is published on Unstop, teams must submit a pitch deck (maximum 5–7 slides) containing an executive background brief and script structure for their channel.
The top 6–10 decks will advance to the On-Stage Final Round.
Problem Statement:
Step into the shoes of a global economic newsroom as the world faces a new technological power struggle. With AI and autonomous manufacturing reshaping industries, your team must investigate the economic, political, and social implications of India's proposed deal with a global technology consortium.
Deliver a compelling live newsroom broadcast featuring data-driven economic analysis, on-ground reporting, strategic insights, and the identification of emerging opportunities and risks. Be prepared to adapt your narrative when an unexpected development challenges your assumptions.
Suggested Slide Outline:
- Slide 1: Channel branding, logo, slogan, and executive summary.
- Slide 2: Crisis breakdown and root causes.
- Slide 3: Quantitative and economic impact analysis.
- Slide 4: The "Beyond Antifragile" strategy (who wins and how).
- Slide 5: Field report summary (ground-zero reality).
- Slide 6: Contingency planning and risk matrix.
Round 3: On-Stage Live Newsroom Simulation (Final Round)
Finalist teams will deliver a live simulated TV newsroom broadcast on stage before judges and a live audience.
Participating teams must come to the campus of Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon, for the live simulation.
Each Team Must Cover:
- Stage setup.
- 3-minute live broadcast.
- Mid-segment surprise twist.
- Q&A.