Every year, during the EURegionsWeek the Youth4Regions programme selects the most promising young journalists from the EU and beyond and gives them the chance to explore EU policies, learn from seasoned journalists, and familiarise themselves with inner workings of European institutions. For the next four weeks, Panorama will host a series of articles that collect their impressions. Today’s guest writer is Isabel Colleran from Ireland, the views expressed are entirely her own and do not represent the official position of the European Commission.
“From the very first moment I landed in Brussels, I was surrounded by people with a shared passion for news, truth and ethical journalism.
The week was off to a great start but it only got better from there. I made friends from all over the world and I’m incredibly grateful for all these new connections I’ve made as a result of the Youth4Regions programme.
I’d studied the European Union (EU) in university but it wasn’t until I spent a week in Brussels surrounded by 40 other young journalists from across the European Union and beyond, did I truly understand the importance of the project.
Working cohesively with journalists from other countries, shed light on international issues I’d never had the chance to interact with before.
Each day of the programme brought something new and exciting, from networking events to panel discussions and exhibitions.
During the week, I was very privileged to have the opportunity to attend insightful presentations and press conferences at the European Commission as well as visit the offices of EuroNews, Euractiv and the European Newsroom bureau where established journalists told us their stories and spoke to us about their work as journalists as part of the EU.
Midweek, I found myself at a photography exhibition on the war in Ukraine. For over an hour and a half, husband and wife team Libkos answered a plethora of questions and displayed their portfolio of photos from the frontlines of the war in Ukraine.
Their words along with the harrowing images and videos on display stayed with me. I felt I’d learned more about the war in Ukraine based on their lived experience.
One of their key messages which stayed with me after this session was their answer to the question; in such dire circumstances, how can you go on and continue with your work?
In response, they said they continued to document the war because they didn’t want the world to forget about it.
Later that night, I asked my colleague and newfound friend Alyona who was also a part of the Youth4Regons programme and a war reporter from Ukraine, if I could do an interview with her to help spread Libkos’ message and give a platform to the devastating circumstances they are currently enduring in Ukraine.
Alyona kindly agreed and another colleague of ours Annalena from the programme also worked with us on this project. The following day, the three of us sat down together and spoke extensively on this topic.
Alyona told us a harrowing account of what it’s been like as a young woman living in Ukraine since the war started three years ago. A quote I found particularly touching was when Alyona said, “I never wanted to be a war reporter, I hate writing about war”.
Since returning home to Ireland, I’ve written the interview with Alyona and am hoping it will be published in the Irish Independent soon. Annalena is also working on producing a radio package from the recording of the interview for a radio station she works with in Germany.
This entire experience gave me a valuable opportunity to explore what it means to be a journalist in this day and age and understand the true meaning of ethical journalism and press freedom.
Ultimately, Youth4Regions has inspired me to become a better journalist, to seek the truth and stand up for what’s right.
Upon reflection, I believe the most special stories I heard during the week, are the ones I heard from my fellow young journalists a part of the Youth4Regions programme.
Being at the heart of Europe and getting to see the inner workings of the EU, I felt a deeper connection to my identity as a young European. I felt great pride to be in the midst of all of the other young journalists and to have the opportunity to learn from them and their stories.”