Since 2022, the Pool of Young Journalists in Europe has given young people from across Europe a platform to share their ideas.
The Pool is a network of young journalists writing articles, developing podcasts and conducting interviews on the topics that are important to young people in Europe. Through training from experts and hands-on experience reporting on events across Europe, it helps these young journalists gain professional skills and contacts, hone their writing and gain visibility on the European Youth Portal.
When Eurodesk and the European Commission launched the Pool of Young Journalists, the aim was for young people to have a chance to share their writing and ideas and to help them launch their careers. Five years later, the Pool has become one of Eurodesk’s most recognisable projects and has inspired young people to pursue careers in journalism, politics and more.
Former Young Journalist Oliver Čechmánek said that it ‘Reassured me that my place is in journalism,’ and Emma Brownrigg Fenech said, ‘It completely transformed the trajectory of my journalism career. Being an alumna of the Pool naturally ignites your curiosity about how the EU functions, and challenges you to discover exactly how you, as a young journalist and as an EU citizen, fit into the puzzle.’
Lifting up young voices
Since 2022, 64 young people from across Europe and beyond have joined the Pool and published more than 160 articles on the European Youth Portal. They have reported from the European Parliament, the European Youth Event in Strasbourg, the Conference on the Future of Europe and many more events around Europe.
Alumni are now working as full-time journalists at Times of Malta and MaltaToday, and at RTL in Croatia. Emanuele Gessi joined the Italian Order of Journalists after two years of political reporting for his city’s main online newspaper. Juliana Zammit won the Maltese Journalism Institute’s award for upcoming journalists, covered Malta’s general election and hosted a debate with youth representatives from every political party in the country.
Beyond journalism
Harry McCann parlayed his experience as a Young Journalist in 2022 into a role as a Special Adviser to Ireland’s Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Of his time in the programme, he said, ‘It provided unparalleled access to the inner workings of the EU institutions and the opportunity to speak with and interview the people who help keep them running.’
The experience also helped Katariina Järve build her skills. ‘I grew into a more open and more networking-oriented person, both professionally and personally.’ She now sits on the executive committee of the European Students’ Union and is building her own communications agency in Estonia.
Other alumni are working in institutional relations in Brussels, at the UN in New York, in editorial and PR roles in Germany and in global citizenship education in Ireland.
Skills for life
When we asked alumni which skills stayed with them, almost every single one named the same thing: networking and communication.
Tea Mihanović said, ‘The opportunity to connect with fellow members of the Pool, people who are not afraid to ask questions, who genuinely believe in their ideals and in a better tomorrow, has been inspiring.’
Journalistic writing was also highlighted as a key skill by the participants, who receive in-person and online training from professional journalists.
And for Lisa Leopoli it had a profound effect; she simply said, ‘It totally changed my life.’
Time to take part
The Pool of Young Journalists in Europe has been amplifying the voices of young writers, helping them find their place in the world of journalism and inspiring them to become engaged citizens for five years.
If you want to be part of the next group of young journalists, mark 22 September on your calendar – that’s when applications open for 2027.
Follow the young journalists on Instagram at @youngjournalistseu
