Hosted by the European parliament and co-organised with European youth press, the European youth media days involved journalists aged 18-30 in three days of discussions, meetings and workshops on current EU topics. Together with media professionals, MEPS and EU experts, the journalists took the stage from 27 to 30 June to have their say on the future of European journalism.
Panel discussions involved parliament president Hans Pöttering, the leaders of parliament'sdifferent political groups and press representatives, with Brussels correspondents discussing the problems facing European journalists. “Here in Brussels it’s very difficult to sell European stories”, said International Press Association president Lorenzo Consoli, explaining that home media give more space to national stories.
Split into more than 20 different workgroups, the young journalists produced a number of real media products, including articles, newsletters, videos, photos, radio productions and caricatures. “This was the first time that I was in the company of so many different nationalities”, said one of them.
As a new, more modern way of engaging young people in shaping Europe’s future, the youth media days look to offer a major opportunity for changing the media, giving it a more European outlook than it has today.
Watch some of the workshop results:
Big Brother Europe is watching you (video)
Photo documentary on poor people in Brussels
Other European youth media products
