More information
Description
The project aims to strengthen civil society, build social sensitivity and awareness among young citizens. We deal with three thematic areas: social exclusion (especially of the LGBT+ community), the migrant crisis (countering human rights violations and other forms of discrimination) and climate change. We run workshops for a group of 20 young people who want to learn the craft of journalism in order to make the world a better place. The classes are conducted online, which allows people from all over Poland to participate. The workshops take the form of a series of meetings during which the participants learn about the ‘backstage’ of journalistic work and write their own texts on the subject of human rights. Each person participating in the project is supported by their own ‘mentor’ - a EURACTIV.pl journalist.
Summary of project results
As part of the Journalism for Democracy project, we supported the development of civil society in Poland, build social sensitivity and awareness of young citizens in the field of respecting human rights and climate change.
Based on the themes of each of the three areas of the project, in cooperation with experienced journalists from the Euractiv.pl editorial office and respected experts, journalistic and activist workshops were conducted with students from all over Poland.
As part of them, students learned what the work of a journalist from an independent editorial office involves, who covers topics that are important to society, exposing the situation of minorities and discriminated groups. The young generation of journalists gained the necessary knowledge to cover social issues in a reliable and objective manner. This will allow them to participate in the development of a civil society based on tolerance resulting from knowledge.
Out of 20 candidates, 3 interns were selected. They were introduced to the work of the editorial office and independently carried out the assigned tasks. All were monitored by experienced journalists, who reported possible
corrections and areas of development on which the interns should focus.
In addition to developing competences from the first part of the project and increasing social awareness (concerning, among others, migration, exclusion, the LGBT+ community and climate/energy), the participants expanded their knowledge of the European Union''s policy and the current international situation. Additionally, the interns familiarized themselves with the method of publishing information on the editorial office''s website and in social media run by EURACTIV PL.
The workshops took the form of a series of meetings, during which selected participants got to know the work of a journalist "from the inside" thanks to meetings with professionals. Each participant of the project was under the care of EURACTIV.pl journalists, who acted as mentors.
All project participants increased their competences in searching for information and were made more sensitive to social problems.
They were able to meet and ask questions of experts, which made it easier to understand the social problems raised during the workshops.
Thanks to the comments and advice from experts, participants improved their writing skills. Such an attitude may have a positive impact in the future
on the quality of media messages created by participants in the regions they come from.
Additionally, interns who worked with the Euractiv Polska editorial team for 3 months acquired basic skills related to
journalistic work. When creating mini reports, they used the skills and information that appeared at training meetings.
According to the experts, the skills they acquired will allow them to reliably verify sources, prepare valuable materials and
adapt content to recipients.