Youth4Regions – the programme for aspiring journalists
- 3 years after –
The Youth4Regions programme is to enter its fourth edition. A survey carried among the former
participants (alumni) has revealed their overwhelming support for the programme’s continuation and
the directions for taking it forward.
73 alumni were invited to respond to the survey between 6 and 16 February 2020 and 33
answers were received. These are the main results of the survey.
1. Professional development:
• 66% (22 respondents) of the respondents considered that the programme benefitted
their career through networking and professional advice;
• 18% (6 respondents) mentioned that they had received a job offer thanks to the
programme;
• 70% (23 respondents) considered that their skills improved thanks to the programme.
2. Personal development:
• 97% (32 respondents) consider that the programme helped them improve their
understanding of the EU;
• 18% (6 respondents) improved tolerance;
• 66% (22 respondents) improved self-awareness;
• 60% (20 respondents) created lasting friendships.
3. Current occupation:
• 42% (14 respondents) worked as journalists (part-time or full-time) at the time of the
survey;
• 24% (8 respondents) were still students.
4. Most relevant and often suggestions for the future of the programme:
• More hands on journalist work during the Week;
• More job shadowing and networking between participants and senior journalists;
• More trainings focused on skill building at the beginning of the programme (e.g.
coverage, interview, storytelling trainings);
• Have a clearer programme and communicate expectations in advance;
• More opportunities to socialize and build a network (e.g. get to know each other
activities).
Follow up to the survey
The results of the survey will be taken into consideration when designing the media
programme for the 2020 edition, which, accordingly, should include more work and
networking opportunities, as well as media-relevant trainings and mentoring.