Panel discussion on the topic – Challenges that are facing young journalists

On the initiative of the Section of Young Journalists at the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM), a panel discussion was held on the topic “Challenges of the young journalists: capacity building and development of inter-editorial cooperation and Solidarity”.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss current issues and topics related to the work of young journalists, how to create a communication network, ways, and tools for implementation, how to motivate young journalists to pursue this profession, organization of trainings, seminars, and lectures on topics of interest, what activities you would expect to be implemented within the section of young journalists and what changes you would like to see happen.

There were four panelists at the event, which was moderated by the executive director of AJM, Dragan Sekulovski. The first speaker was Petar Klincharski, a journalist at A1on who spoke on the topic “How to create a network for communication between young journalists – ways and tools for implementation”. He dwelled on the reasons for the importance of the existence and functioning of the Section for Young Journalists, precisely because of the lack of young staff in the newsrooms, the potential ways of cooperation on joint stories.

“We as a section can make an effort to interest young people who are still in high school to think about journalism as a profession by visiting several schools in Skopje. I believe that those visits would be beneficial for them, and for us as Fela” – said Klincharski.

Adrian Kerim, a journalist at TV Alsat spoke about how training, seminars, and lectures on topics that are of interest to young journalists, will contribute to improving the capacities and keeping the section alive.

“I think it’s time we wake up and all unite to protect the community and the profession. Otherwise, after two years, not only will there be no journalists, but there will be no media and information. If we don’t act united now, tomorrow we have no right to complain in the name of professionalism” – Kerimi said.

Ivana Krsteska – Janevska, a journalist at TV Alfa, focused on the activities that young colleagues expect to be implemented in the section. Through an active discussion, ideas and examples of restoring the shine of the journalistic profession, as well as positive and negative experiences of colleagues from the newsrooms, were shared.

“I think that it is necessary for each of us to act, instead of just saying negative things because that is the only way to improve things, otherwise there will be no one to succeed us. We are the last generation that has a larger number of journalists, and if we want it to remain that way, we must act” – said Krsteska – Janevska.

Dragan Sekulovski, in the end, pointed out that bigger changes can be made together. In that context, information will follow when there are public events or an opportunity to share comments related to the new legal rules that affect the work of all media professionals.

It was discussed the need for greater solidarity and willingness to help from experienced colleagues in the newsrooms because young people have no one to learn from, and if this does not change their interest in continuing their careers will decrease even more.

In the coming period, in addition to the other activities of AJM, again this year a camp for young journalists will be held in Ohrid, for which activities are planned, among which there will be interactive content that will contribute to the realization of one of the goals of the section, namely networking of fellow journalists from different newsrooms.

* The event took place within the framework of the project “Protection of Freedom of Expression and Independence of the Media as Pillars of Democracy in the Republic of North Macedonia” financed by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed at the event do not represent the official views and opinions of the European Union. The responsibility for the views and expressed opinions lies entirely with the organizer and the participants.