February 2012 will see the fifth annual IxDA conference, Interaction12, in Dublin, Ireland. Over the course of the first four days of the month, the Convention Center and IADT will host a series of keynotes, presentations and workshops for interaction designers from across the globe.

In conjunction with the conference, the IxDA is challenging the next generation of ace interaction designers to "design the future of the news":People follow breaking news via Twitter. Tablets, mobile phones, paywalls, RSS feeds, viral videos and other elements have found their way into the current news landscape. The experience has swollen far beyond the icons of the daily newspaper on your doorstep and the 6 o'clock newscast.

We know that people are consuming news differently, and these emerging practices are changing the news...

This year, Thomson Reuters and the IxDA challenge you to look beyond the forms of delivery to address the behaviors, interactions and goals that surround news.

The Interaction12 Student Design Challenge is intended to examine issues including but not limited to: what people are trying to achieve with the news; how we identify important or relevant stories; and emerging trends in news reportage, from hyperlocal to citizen journalism.

The first stage consists of a video 'audition,' in which "the judges will be looking for interaction design ability and how you communicate your thinking on the theme, rather than examining any design work you've done to create solutions around the theme." Finalists will receive travel and accommodation to Dublin, as well as student registration in Interaction12 and enrollment in an on-site masterclass that consists of additional opportunities (read: prizes).

Submit your video by December 5 for a chance to win; see more details and the full registration form here.