Now it is up to the young ones
The debate on the future of journalism is one we have to have and it are the young people who have to take the lead in the debate instead of just being powerless witnesses.”
And how can they do that? Empowering young people’s role in the society is the obvious answer, but providing young journalists the right tools to protect themselves from the unscrupulous media companies and politicians is the key to succeed!
Young journalists need also to be prepared for the new media evolution, they should be aware of the changes on the journalism field, be active in the national unions, mobilise and wake them up. But on the other hand, honesty is necessary: “Young people should be encouraged to go into media, but we have to give them a correct portrait of what is going on in the “field”. It is not a glamorous life: for every 10 journalism students in Belgium, there is only one who will find a job in journalism. I can’t think about one journalism school in Europe that is not worried about where to place their people. “
To be familiarised with their rights and duties, as with the framework contracts based on correct working condition, young journalists should contact their national journalism unions (contacts also available on www.ifj-europe.org).
The role of the EU Institutions
European Institutions are seen nowadays as the problem solver for every difficulty or every public concern. Indeed, they can draft some useful solutions and take into action loads of policies and programmes able to make everything more “citizens’ friendly”. However, Aidan White mentions, “They don’t have the legal power to change the situation of the media. They demanded of the candidate countries to change their economical, legal and social situation, but didn’t demand a division of state and media. They talk the talk but they don’t walk the walk because they don’t have the legal competence to enforce changes in the media. If we want things to change the state, and in this case the European Institutions, have to be able to enforce quality measures.”