Media training on European reporting
“We got deeper into functioning of the Union and also heard different but objective stories, positive and negative things. Speakers and trainers were very good and coming from different bodies connected to EU, so we could hear different opinions. Also was useful to find out where is Macedonia in the process of EU integrations and that experts are very positive about euro integrations of Montenegro”
By MILENA STOŠIĆ (milena.stosic@wavemagazine.net)
from Ohrid, MACEDONIA
Wonderful city of Ohrid, largest cultural and tourist centre in Macedonia, nested on the shores of UNESCO protected Ohrid lake, gathered at the beginning of July about 40 journalists and experts from 18 different countries. These young people had opportunity to participate in new media training on european reporting called “Integrating Europe Online”, with idea to discuss about EU enlargement, EU structure and functioning and to report on EU-related subject. Event was project of well known FEJS Macedonia / Mladiinfo and supported by Youth in Action program. And WAVE magazine was also there.
From the very begining participants were reminded of EU history and development, structure and institutions, as prerequisit for a journalist to write about current EU issues, having in mind how the machine works. The well known example of how curved bananas will be banned by legislation, shows how this kind of trainings are needed in media making, and it is one that couple of trainers mentioned as example of bad practice. But training was of use to young journalists living outside EU, such as Luzia Tschirky from Switzerland.
- An inside view on European institutions but even more on the main thought behind it was very useful. How many times the Union may called to be dead or at least damaged it is still alive today and the training in Ohrid has given young journalists the chance to get about what the European Union is all about – she said for WAVE magazine.
Enthusiasm in coverage of candidate countries
EU enlargement was also one of the topics in focus, so the discussion with Robert Liddell, representative of Delegation of EU in Macedonia raised some interesting questions. Asked about closing the gates of EU for future members, Liddell honestly answered that today answer would be that there is no limit to EU enlargement, but also stated that you can never tell what will happen tomorrow:
- We see Balkans as a part of Europe. But it is their call if they are going to join, it is up to them, it is their choice. Yes, you can prepare for membership, adopt standards etc.
One of the things he also stressed is that active participation of citizens is of importance, so for journalist maybe even more.
- People should be asking questions about what is going on around them. They must start with awareness and asking goverment what are they doing. You must understand in order to participate.
And apparently Ex-yugoslavian country Macedonia understands as well concept of participation in community such as EU. As Draganco Apostolovski, representative of this country’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs reminded, Macedonia was already a part of Yugoslavia, refering to idea of multinational community and strong economicaly developed federation, so it has certain “experience”.
Representative of another candidate country – Montenegro, was also there. In opinion of Milica Zugic, this training was very important from that point of view.
- We got deeper into functioning of the Union and also heard different but objective stories, positive and negative things. Speakers and trainers were very good and coming from different bodies connected to EU, so we could hear different opinions. Also was useful to find out where is Macedonia in the process of EU integrations and that experts are very positive about euro integrations of Montenegro.
Ilona Nuksevica, representative of FEJS Latvia also notices thatenthusiasm mostly emerged in coverage in candidate countries, such as Macedonia, comparing to negative or uninterested EU reporting in UK or other “old members”. Apart from that she finds this training very interesting and inspiring to work in international team and compare different approaches to EU reporting.
- Although the EU topics we discussed were mostly not very “exciting” or of relevant importance for everybody, the experienced, active and enthusiastic team members from all of the Europe (and not only) gave me a lot of new information, impressions and skills – she explained for our magazine.
But, although EU topics are not always very exciting, as Ilona mentioned, basics about EU and decision making process are “must know” for journalist who reports on such topics.
- There is a huge gap between what is EU producing and what is interesting for the public. Journalists are forced to pick up some details from legislations and make it interesting. But as Kennedy said once, we are trying to do something that is hard and not easy – Valentin Nestovski, public information officer at EU information centre in Skopje stressed on this training.
People, Skopsko beer and Yugo-nostalgy
And maybe the most interesting part of this event was practical part of it, where international teams, facilitated by a trainer made together reports on various EU topics.
- It was really great pleasure to participate in this event and I am really glad that it took place on the Balkans, where I’ve never been before. The region and its people made my main impressions - Belarusian Siarhei Kuzniatsouconcludes.
This opportunity of working together, networking and especially cultural exchange is obviously also one of the most important aspects that young media makers gained from this training, as you can read in Carmen Kong‘s article in Europe & Me magazine, too.
- Sipping from a bottle of Skopsko, the regional beer from the Macedonian capital Skopje, two Macedonian and Slovenian journalists fascinated me with their Croatian-Serbian conversation. When asked more about their common history and culture under the Yugoslavian era, they disclosed the nostalgy for communism that existed in their countries about – she wrote in her observation.
And this Yugo-nostalgy was revealed once more during farewell party when participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia sang together famous song of ex-yu rock band “Igra rock’n'roll cela Jugoslavija” (Whole Yugoslavia dance rock’n'roll). Maybe they will be again under same umbrella of EU in future and until then (and then) we will follow news about in media.
Photos by Sebastian Olenyi (creative commons licence cc by nc) & Tamara Trajkovski
(Published: 10.07.2011. at Wave magazine)
Filed under: EYJA Network
